Christopher Taylor Bird Nature Wildlife Mammal Photography
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GALLERIES > BIRDS > ANSERIFORMES > ANATIDAE > ANATINAE > BLUE-WINGED TEAL [Anas discors]

Blue-winged Teal Picture
 
 
Location: Morro Bay, CA
GPS: 35.3W, -120.9N MAP
Date: March 9, 2008
ID: 5582
Blue-winged Teal Photo
 
 
Location: Brazos Bend, TX
GPS: 29.4W, -95.6N MAP
Date: January 31, 2009
ID: 7C2V3868

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Blue-winged Teal Image
 
 
Location: Santa Barbara (Devereux Slough), CA
Date: October 7, 2007
ID: 5402

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SPECIES INFO

The Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) is a small dabbling duck.

The adult male has a greyish blue head with a white facial crescent, a light brown body with a white patch near the rear and a black tail. The adult female is mottled brown. Both sexes have a blue wing patch. In flight, they flap their wings especially rapidly.

Their breeding habitat is marshes and ponds throughout north and central North America. The nest is a shallow depression on the ground lined with grass and down, usually surrounded by vegetation.

They migrate in flocks to Central and South America. During migration, some birds may fly long distances over open ocean. They are occasional vagrants to Europe, where their yellow legs are a distinction from other small ducks like Common Teal and Garganey. DNA analysis of this species has revealed it's genetic make up to be almost identical to that of the Cinnamon teal.

These birds feed by dabbling in shallow water. They mainly eat plants; their diet may include molluscs and aquatic insects.

The call of the male is a short whistle; the female's call is a soft quack.



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