Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Green-winged Teal
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Anas crecca
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Voice
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
How to recognize it
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Small dabbling duck; very narrow, pointed wings
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Male: dark head, green face patch through the eye, white stripe along the flank/wing
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Female: brown-gray, like a miniature mallard, with a narrow two-toned speculum
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Male call: clear high whistle
About the species
The Green-winged Teal is a small, lively duck that is easy to remember for its sleek shape and narrow, pointed wings. In spring the drake looks especially striking on the water, while the female is quieter-looking and more subdued.
It is a noisy, social duck outside the breeding season and often gathers in large flocks. The male gives a clear, high whistle, while the female answers with a softer quack; in flight it moves fast, and it can rise almost straight up from the water.
It prefers sheltered shallow wetlands with vegetation along the edges, and in winter it also uses brackish waters, inlets, and lagoons. It eats both animal and plant food, shifting more toward seeds and grain in colder months; in milder places it may stay through the year.
Where to find
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Along quiet pond edges, backwaters, and canal banks with reeds — early in the morning, look for small ducks dabbling right at the waterline and tipping up to feed.
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On flooded meadows and damp low spots after rain — tiny flocks pick at mud and short grass, moving in quick bursts from puddle to puddle.
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At small shaded waters in mature city parks — they stay close to cover, while the male gives away the flock with a clear whistle from the water.
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In winter on sheltered shores with thick shoreline vegetation — often gathered in loose groups, feeding at dusk with hardly any sound.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Anas crecca Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Eurasian teal Encyclopedia article