Blue-winged teal Anas discors

Identification Tips:

• Length: 11 inches Wingspan: 24 inches
• Small dabbling duck
• Medium-sized bill without spatulate tip
• Pale blue upper secondary coverts
• Green speculum with white leading edge
• Dark bill
• Juvenile similar to adult female

Adult male alternate:

• Alternate plumage worn from early winter through early summer
• Blue-gray head with darker cap
• White crescent on face in front of eye
• Buff breast and flanks with darker spotting
• White band at rear portion of flanks
• Black undertail coverts

Adult male basic

• Similar to adult female, but forewing brighter

Adult female:

• Pale head
• Dark crown and eye line
• Pale eye ring, and loral spot
• Mottled gray-brown body plumage with darker back

Similar species:

Adult in alternate plumage is unmistakable. Female, immature and eclipse male similar to Green-winged and Cinnamon Teals. Note the small size and small bill of the Green-winged Teals as well as the green speculum. Cinnamon Teal is very difficult to distinguish in some (female) plumages, but note the smaller bill without a spatulate tip and the more distinct facial pattern (pale loral spot and more distinct eye line) of the Blue-winged Teal.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.