| Green-winged Teal Identification Tips |
| (Credit: U. S. Geological Survey) |
| General
Information - Very small, short-necked, and small-billed dabbling duck - Green speculum - Whitish belly - Juvenile similar to adult female Adult male alternate - Alternate plumage worn from Fall through early summer - Dark bill - Rich rust-colored head - Iridescent green face patch sweeping through eye and tapering to the back of head - Buff chest with dark spotting - Gray flanks and back - Vertical white line at fore part of flanks - Horizontal black line above flanks - Buff outer undertail coverts bordered by black - Black central undertail coverts Adult male basic - Similar to adult female, but with duller face pattern Adult female - Dark gray bill - Pale brown head and neck - Dark brown cap and eye line - Dark brown back and upperwing coverts scalloped with buff - White breast spotted with brown - White belly Similar species Adult male unmistakable in winter. Females, immature and eclipse males similar to most female ducks, but are very small, short-billed, and have a distinctive wing pattern that is sometimes visible at rest. |
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