Species BirdsBlue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

CommonBird
Illustration of Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)

The Blue-winged Teal is one of the last ducks to arrive in spring and one of the first to depart in fall, many wintering as far south as Chile. The male has a blue-gray head with a bold white crescent in front of the eye and powder-blue wing patches visible in flight. It prefers shallow prairie potholes and marshes for breeding.

Habitat
Prairie potholes, shallow marshes, and wetland edges
Diet
Aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and aquatic plants
How common
Common

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