Blue-winged teal
Anas discors
Identification Tips:
- 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.