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GALLERIES > BIRDS > ANSERIFORMES > ANATIDAE > GREEN-WINGED TEAL [Anas crecca]


Green-winged Teal Image @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Gilbert, (Gilbert Water Ranch), AZ
GPS: 33.4N, -111.7W, elev=1,285' MAP
Date: January 22, 2023
ID : B13K2297 [4896 x 3264]

nature photography

Green-winged Teal Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Ballona Freshwater Marsh, CA
GPS: 34.0N, -118.4W, elev=5' MAP
Date: January 29, 2019
ID : B13K8040 [4896 x 3264]

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Green-winged Teal (A.c. carolinensis)
 
 
Location: Saint Paul, Pribilof Islands, AK
GPS: 57.1N, -170.3W, elev=28' MAP
Date: June 1, 2012
ID : B13K8904 [4896 x 3264]

nature photography

Green-winged Teal (A.c. crecca)
 
 
Location: Hackney Marsh, London, England
GPS: 51.6N, -0.0W, elev=26' MAP
Date: December 25, 2011
ID : B13K0995 [4896 x 3264]

nature photography

Green-winged Teal (A.c. carolinensis)
 
 
Location: Newport Back Bay, CA
GPS: 33.6N, -117.9W, elev=4' MAP
Date: February 2, 2008
ID : 3024 [3888 x 2592]

Green-winged Teal (A.c. carolinensis)
 
 
Location: Playa del Rey (Ballona Creek), CA
Date: September 25, 2007
ID : 2223 [3888 x 2592]

nature photography

Green-winged Teal (A.c. carolinensis)
 
 
Location: Playa del Rey (Ballona Creek), CA
Date: September 25, 2007
ID : 2236 [3888 x 2592]

Green-winged Teal (A.c. carolinensis)
 
 
Location: Playa del Rey (Ballona Creek), CA
Date: September 25, 2007
ID : 2232 [3888 x 2592]

nature photography

SPECIES INFO

The Green-winged Teal (GWT, Anas carolinensis) is a common and widespread duck which breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered conspecific with the Common Teal for some time, and the issue is still being reviewed by the American Ornithologists' Union ; based on this the IUCN and BirdLife International (BirdLife International, 2004) do not accept it as a separate species at present. However, nearly all other authorities consider it distinct nowadays, based on behavioral (Laurie-Ahlberg & McKinney 1979), morphological (Livezey, 1991), and molecular (Johnson & Sorenson 1999) evidence (discussed by Sangster et al., 2002).

This dabbling duck is strongly migratory and winters far south of its breeding range. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks. In flight, the fast, twisting flocks resemble waders.

This is the smallest North American dabbling duck. The breeding male has grey flanks and back, with a yellow rear end and a white-edged green speculum, obvious in flight or at rest. It has a chestnut head with a green eye patch. It is distinguished from drake Common Teal (the Eurasian relative of this bird) by a vertical white stripe on side of breast, the lack of both a horizontal white scapular stripe and the lack of thin buff lines on its head.

The females are light brown, with plumage much like a female Mallard. They can be distinguished from most ducks on size and shape, and the speculum. Separation from female Common Teal is problematic.

In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.

It is a common duck of sheltered wetlands, such as taiga bogs, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing. It nests on the ground, near water and under cover. While its conservation status is not evaluated by IUCN at present due to non-recognition of the taxon, it is plentiful enough to make it a species of Least Concern if it were; it is far more plentiful than the Common Teal (Carboneras, 1992). It can be seen in vast numbers in the Marismas Nacionales of western Mexico, a main wintering area.

This is a noisy species. The male has a clear whistle, whereas the female has a feeble "quack".




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green_winged_teal's Range Map Click here to see the Green-winged Teal's range map!
Listen to the Green-winged Teal Call:



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