Green-winged Teal

The Green-winged Teal, as commonly used in North America, refers to the American subspecies of the widespread species Anas crecca, and it is the smallest dabbling duck found on the continent. It breeds across northern and western North America and winters widely across the United States, Mexico, and Central America.

Breeding males show a rich chestnut head with an iridescent green patch running back from the eye, a grey body, and a distinctive bold white vertical stripe on the side of the breast, a key North American field mark not shown by the Old World form of the species.

Feathers of this species are recognizable by their small size, a bright green speculum patch bordered with buff and black, and, in males, the combination of chestnut head feathers and a crisp white vertical flank stripe.

Size and shape

• Very small dabbling-duck contour and flight feathers, smaller than any other regularly occurring North American dabbler
• Compact, short wings typical of the smallest teal species

Color and pattern

• Male head feathers rich chestnut with an iridescent green patch extending back from the eye, bordered by a thin cream line
• Male body feathers finely vermiculated grey, with a bold white vertical stripe on the side of the breast in North American birds
• Speculum feathers bright green, bordered with buff in front and black behind
• Undertail area shows a black-bordered buffy triangle patch on each side of the rump

Distinguishing from similar species

• Notably smaller than any similar dabbling duck, useful alongside color pattern
• The vertical white flank stripe distinguishes the North American form from the Eurasian form of the same species, which instead shows a horizontal white stripe along the scapulars

Breeding males show a chestnut head with a green eye patch, grey vermiculated body, a black-bordered buffy rump patch, and a bold white vertical stripe on the breast side. Females are mottled brown overall, among the smallest and plainest of the dabbling ducks. Males undergo an eclipse molt after breeding, briefly resembling females. All undergo a flightless period during wing molt.

Breeds across northern and western North America in marshes, ponds, and wet meadows, and winters very widely across the United States, Mexico, and Central America, favoring shallow wetlands, flooded fields, and coastal marshes. It is strongly migratory across most of its range.

Feeds by dabbling in very shallow water and mudflats for seeds and small invertebrates, often forming large, tightly packed flocks outside the breeding season. Nests on the ground in dense vegetation near water. Voice includes a short, crisp whistle in males, while females give a high, thin quack. Its small size and the vertical white flank stripe make breeding male feathers of this North American form fairly easy to distinguish from the related Eurasian form.