Green Winged Teal Mini Original

The smallest dabbling duck in North America, the Green-Winged Teal breeds in Canada and the Northern Midwest (prairie pothole region) in shallow wetlands and flooded agricultural fields. They hang out with other dabbling ducks, but look for the males’ cinnamon-colored head with a green crescent from eye to back of head. Females are more brown in color, but both sexes flash green wing patches in flight (specula).

These teals eat mostly aquatic invertebrates and seeds along shallow waters, tipping up (dabbling) to reach submerged food sources. Like the Northern Shoveler, they have lamellae (filament like projections) along their beaks to filter feed in the water.

Nests are typically built in sedge meadows, grasslands, brush thickets, or in woods near a pond. The female chooses a spot that offers dense cover that may form a complete canopy over the nest. A clutch is 6 to 9 eggs. A few hours after they hatch the chicks can swim, dive, walk, and forage for themselves, although the female continues to brood them at night and to protect them when the weather turns cold.

Green-winged Teals are fast, agile, buoyant flyers. They can take off straight from the water without running across the surface.  Courtship starts in the fall and peaks in January and February; they choose new partners each year. Males try to secure a mate using an elaborate set of movements and vocal displays, with groups of up to 25 males courting females both on the water and in courtship flights. Although most pairs form on the wintering grounds, pair formation continues during spring migration and on the breeding grounds.

Sources: All About Birds and Audubon Society

Original mixed media on raw stretched canvas with maple float frame. Alternative hardwood frame available upon request.