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The Blue Winged Teal seems a somewhat less hardy duck than most duck species. Their blue wing on their wing with their rapid flight and aerobatic maneuvers are a sight to behold. These teal seem to be late arrivals in spring and are among the first ducks to move south in the fall. They may be found throughout much of the United States and Canada during the breeding season. They nest in grasses and reeds on near edge ponds and marshes and also prairie "potholes". They are about 14-16 inches with a blue gray head sporting a prominent white crescent. The females are mottled buff brown and are similar to the cinnamon teal. In flight, the large powder blue wing patch and speculum can be seen. Their voice is a squeaky peep peep peep, and also a soft barking call. They prefer shallow freshwater marshes and ponds. Their breeding is from southeastern Alaska to the East Coast and southward across much of the United States. They winter from North CarCFAna south to Florida and along the Gulf Coast to Texas. The Blue Winged Teal, the male species, possesses a gray head and neck with white crescent on the face and eye and beak, with its beak being black, spotted brown breast and flanks, white patch between the flanks and under coverts, black undertail and upper coverts with the lags and feet being yellow. The scientific name is Anas discors. Unlike other dabbling ducks that form pairs in that fall, the Blue-Winged Teal begins courting in the spring and often does not acquire the familiar breeding plumage until December or January. When preening, ducks like this Blue-Winged Teal appear to pay close attention to their tail feathers , actually, they are oiling their plumage, bills and legs.
