North American field guide
Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca
Identification
Field notes
36 cm (14") Fairly common and widespread. Marshes, lakes, rivers, bays, flooded grain fields. Our smallest dabbler.
Male: reddish-brown head with large iridescent green patch extending around and behind eye; gray body with vertical white stripe down the side in front of the wing; pinkish speckled breast; dark bill. Song: whistles.
Female: dark mottled gray-brown overall; dark streak through eye; green iridescent patch from speculum is usually visible near back end of body; small dark bill. Told from other female teals by smaller bill and light undertail coverts.
In flight: small, fast flying in compact agile flocks; green speculum; light belly.
Song: soft quacks.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)
Credit: ayuwje08Albany Shorebirds - Green-winged Teal
Credit: roblewis56Where it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Green-winged Teal (Female)
1 ruleRule 1 13 criteria · confidence 7
- What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?
- White or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow, olive, or tan (light brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like
Green-winged Teal (Male)
1 ruleRule 1 11 criteria · confidence 7
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like