Green-winged Teal

Anas crecca

Ducks, Swans, and Geese · Anseriformes · Common

The Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) is a common ducks, swans, and geese found in 154 countries, weighing about 342 g. The Eurasian teal, common teal, or Eurasian green-winged teal is a common and widespread duck that breeds in temperate Eurosiberia and migrates south in winter.

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About the Green-winged Teal

The Eurasian teal, common teal, or Eurasian green-winged teal is a common and widespread duck that breeds in temperate Eurosiberia and migrates south in winter. The Eurasian teal is often called simply the teal due to being the only one of these small dabbling ducks in much of its range. The bird gives its name to the blue-green colour teal.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The Eurasian teal is one of the smallest extant dabbling ducks at 34–43 cm (13–17 in) length and with an average weight of 360 g (13 oz) in drake (males) and 340 g (12 oz) in hens (females). The wings are 17.5–20.4 cm (6.9–8.0 in) long, yielding a wingspan of 53–59 cm (21–23 in). The bill measures 3.2–4 cm (1.3–1.6 in) in length, and the tarsus 2.8–3.4 cm (1.1–1.3 in). From a distance, the drakes in breeding plumage appear grey, with a dark head, a yellowish behind, and a white stripe running along the flanks.

What the Green-winged Teal sounds like

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: wilmet sebastien · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Colombia, Australia, Ecuador, Panama, Cameroon, Anguilla, Dominican Republic, Haiti, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Turkmenistan, Djibouti, British Virgin Islands.

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in April. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Green-winged Teal?
The Eurasian teal is one of the smallest extant dabbling ducks at 34–43 cm (13–17 in) length and with an average weight of 360 g (13 oz) in drake (males) and 340 g (12 oz) in hens (females). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Green-winged Teal?
The Green-winged Teal is a large sized bird weighing about 342 g.
Where can you see a Green-winged Teal?
The Green-winged Teal occurs in 154 countries, including the United States, Sweden, Canada, the United Kingdom and Norway.
What does a Green-winged Teal sound like?
You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Green-winged Teal on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Green-winged Teal?
The Green-winged Teal is most easily confused with the Northern Pintail, the American Black Duck and the Pacific Black Duck.

Learn the Green-winged Teal for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

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