Green-winged Teal
(Anas crecca)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB - Unranked Breeding |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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This is the smallest dabbling duck in North America. |
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Size |
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12″ to 16″ in length 23″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Shallow lakes, wetlands, rivers |
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Ecology |
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Migration |
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Early March to mid-May and late August to early December |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Common migrant, rare breeder |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Anseriformes (waterfowl) | ||
Family |
Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans) | ||
| Subfamily | Anatinae (dabbling ducks) | ||
Genus |
Anas (mallards, pintails, and allies) | ||
North American Green-winged Teals were formerly considered a subspecies of the Eurasian Green-winged Teal and was classified as Anas crecca carolinensis. The subspecies was recently raised to full species status based on behavioral, morphological, and molecular data, and is now classified as Anas carolinensis. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and BirdLife International currently recognize the separation. The American Ornithological Society (AOS) maintains a checklist that is the official source of taxonomy for birds found in North America. According to the AOS, recent DNA data (Peters at al., 2012, 2014) shows that where the ranges of the two taxa overlap in the Bering Sea there is “fairly high rates of gene flow between the two taxa.” For this reason, the AOS continues to classify the North American Green-winged Teal as Anas crecca carolinensis. Right or wrong, the AOS has the final word on bird taxonomy in North America. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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American Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis) Aleutian Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca nimin) Eurasian Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca crecca) |
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Synonyms |
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Anas carolinensis |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this bird. |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Trying to get her attention... Male Green-winged Teal |
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Green-winged Drake and a pair of Blue-winged Teal... The little green-winged was drying off and the pair of blue-winged wandered over. I cropped this image off 4k video I took of them that day. The little green-winged almost looks like it has a green eye mask on. Green-winged teal have become one of my favorite little ducks. Glad some showed up in an area I happened to be out in. Particularly since I had never seen a green-winged in the wild before. |
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Northern Shoveler & a pair of Green-winged Teal... The Northern Shoveler was preening and the pair of Green-winged Teal just kind of were in the same spot. The Northern Shoveler has real bright colored legs. Interesting colorful duck and a bit larger than the little Green-winged Teal. I think from what I have observed the little Green-winged Teal make up for it in character. Male Green-winged Teal rise up and then somewhat bow down with their tail and wing feathers angled upward and turn and flash the females when mating courtship is occurring. First season I have encountered the Green-winged Teal but have seen the Northern Shoveler a few seasons or so. I spent more time pursuing the Green-winged since they seemed more action packed and pretty cute as well. |
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Green-winged Teal... They were at a pond in Norman Co. Mn. May 2023. Beautiful little ducks and action packed. |
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Green-winged Teal Dark and a... Greater Yellowlegs…I think. May 4, 2023 rural Norman Co. Mn. The little green-winged was dunking itself at times and splashing around in the water. The yellowlegs was just kind of in the same area. |
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Spring Arrivals They eventually all flew off together. |
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Elizabeth Daughton |
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green-winged teal, Bredesen Park, Edina, April 8 |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Green-winged Teal Allen Chartier |
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| Green-winged Teal Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren |
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| American Green-winged Teal JMC Nature Photos |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this bird. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Dan W. Andree |
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| "A Little Green-winged Teal" - Enjoying the Water - Spring 2023 Jun 9, 2023 |
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About
This little Green-winged Teal was enjoying the water, splashing around etc. A couple of Greater Yellowlegs were also in the same area. This season was the first time I came across the green-winged teal. I had no idea what the little duck was going to do from one second to the next. "Pretty cute little duck" "Hope you enjoy it" |
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| "A Look at the Green-winged Teal" filmed by Dan W. Andree Jun 9, 2023 |
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About
In early May 2023 at a pond in Mn. some Green-winged teal ducks showed up. This was the first season I had come across some. I wasn't familiar with this small duck so decided to spend a little time observing and filming them. They do spend time bathing and preening their feathers etc. The video has some text at the beginning giving just a small amount of info on them etc. I found them to be real nice little ducks and fortunate to have encountered them. Sounds of redwing blackbirds, pied- billed grebes etc. can be heard. Hope you enjoy this. |
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Other Videos |
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| Green-Winged Teal - Cerceta comun manolodorecho |
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About
Uploaded on Dec 27, 2006 Green-Winged Teal, Palo Alto Baylands, California |
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| Green Winged Teal Stoozik |
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About
Uploaded on Mar 14, 2007 Yvonne's Buddy |
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| NY Botanical Garden: Green-winged teal NATURECAMHD |
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About
Uploaded on Apr 11, 2010 A male green-winged teal on the banks of the Bronx River at the New York Botanical Garden. |
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| Green-winged Teal Wayne Wolfersberger |
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About
Published on Mar 15, 2013 Green-winged Teal Ducks feeding, preening and mating in the spring as they fly north for nesting. Video filmed in northern Virginia at Huntley Meadows Park, a wetlands in Fairfax County. Includes map distribution and educational commentary. |
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| Drake Green-winged Teal WWTCaerlaverock |
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About
Published on Mar 19, 2013 A drake Green-winged Teal on the Folly Pond. Video by Reserve Warden Mike Youdale |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this bird. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Dan W. Andree 5/5/2023 |
Location: rural Norman Co. Mn. Male Green-winged Teal |
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| Dan W. Andree 5/4/2023 |
Location: at a wetland in Norman co. Mn The little green-winged was drying off and the pair of blue-winged wandered over. I cropped this image off 4k video I took of them that day. The little green-winged almost looks like it has a green eye mask on. Green-winged teal have become one of my favorite little ducks. Glad some showed up in an area I happened to be out in. Particularly since I had never seen a green-winged in the wild before. |
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| Dan W. Andree Early May 2023 |
Location: a wetland in Norman Co. Mn. The Northern Shoveler was preening and the pair of Green-winged Teal just kind of were in the same spot. The Northern Shoveler has real bright colored legs. Interesting colorful duck and a bit larger than the little Green-winged Teal. I think from what I have observed the little Green-winged Teal make up for it in character. Male Green-winged Teal rise up and then somewhat bow down with their tail and wing feathers angled upward and turn and flash the females when mating courtship is occurring. First season I have encountered the Green-winged Teal but have seen the Northern Shoveler a few seasons or so. I spent more time pursuing the Green-winged since they seemed more action packed and pretty cute as well. |
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| Dan W. Andree May 2023 |
Location: Norman Co. Mn They were at a pond in Norman Co. Mn. May 2023. Beautiful little ducks and action packed. |
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| Dan W. Andree 5/4/2023 |
Location: rural Norman Co. Mn Green-winged Teal Dark and a...Greater Yellowlegs…I think. May 4, 2023 rural Norman Co. Mn. The little green-winged was dunking itself at times and splashing around in the water. The yellowlegs was just kind of in the same area. |
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| Dan W. Andree 5/3/2018 |
Location: rural Norman Co. Mn They eventually all flew off together. |
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| Elizabeth Daughton 8/8/2017 |
Location: Bredesen Park, Edina |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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