Daily Bird 2024: Green-winged Teal

Male Green-winged Teal illustration by Patrick J. Lynch.

April 10, 2024—For those of you who are new to The Daily Bird, welcome and thank you for signing up! One of the first things you’ll notice is that the Daily Bird isn’t quite accurate—it will be several times a week, not daily, but it didn’t sound right to call it “The Semi-Weekly Bird” or “The Sporadic Bird.” So Daily Bird it is. What I’ve found in the past it that it always takes longer to write, revise, post and send then I think it will, so for now my plan is to keep it going through May and then reevaluate. Three times a week through May means about 2 dozen birds, which isn’t bad.

Thank you again, and please feel free to email me your thoughts. — Tom Andersen, Communications Director

Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca

At only 14 inches long, the Green-winged Teal is one of the smallest North American ducks, rivalling only the Bufflehead for petiteness. It might also be the most beautiful (the competition for that honor is tough).

The males, or drakes, sport a striking combination of colors: a rich, rufous head with a bold green eye patch, a buffy, speckled breast, and a gray body. They have a stylish vertical white stripe on their side and a beige patch near the tail.

Female Green-winged Teal are more subtly patterned. They feature warm brown plumage with a dark cheek stripe and a pale eye ring. Males and females have a vibrant green speculum (or wing patch) that flashes in flight.

Where to Find Them
Seek out coastal salt marshes – those are their favorite hangout spots. The Connecticut Audubon Society’s Coastal Center at Milford Point is a great place to find them. Our Coastal Ranger counted 9 there two days in a row this week. However, these adaptable ducks can turn up in any wetland, including inland ponds and the open coast.

The red pins indicate eBird locations for Green-winged Teal over the past 30 days.

When’s the Best Time?
Green-winged Teal can be spotted between August and May. March is their peak season. A quick look at eBird today indicated that there are still ample individuals to make a search worthwhile.

Keep a Sharp Eye Out
You might discover a “Eurasian” Green-winged Teal. This visitor has a long horizontal stripe down its side instead of the typical vertical one. You might find a hybrid showing both patterns.

A Conservation Success Story
Green-winged Teal populations were once worryingly low. But thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers have soared. Today, these little ducks are thriving are are considered to be of “least concern” by the IUCN. — This post was adapted in April 2024 from an earlier post written by Nick Bonomo.