Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)

Order: Anseriformes | Family: Anatidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

blue-winged_teal
Age: Adult | Sex: Male and Female | Loc. El Cascajo, Lima

blue-winged_teal
Age: Adult | Sex: Male non-breeding | Loc. Florida, USA

blue-winged_teal
Age: Adult | Sex: Female|Loc. Florida, USA

blue-winged_teal
Age: Adult s| Sex: Males and Females |Loc. Florida, USA


Identification & Behavior: ~39 cm (15.3 in). The Blue-winged Teal has sky-blue upper wing coverts, green speculum, and yellow legs. The adult male has a grayish-blue head with a white facial crescent and a white spot near the base of the tail. The female lacks the white crescent and rear spot. Both sexes are brown with black spots on the male and black mottling on the female.  The female is distinguished from the similar female Cinnamon teal by smaller size, grayer plumage, shorter and thinner bill, and whitish at the base of the bill.  The Cinnamon Teal also has sky blue upper wing coverts, which are readily visible during flight.

Status: The Blue-winged Teal is a migratory non-breeding species largely restricted to the coastal lowlands and Amazonia during the months of October through April. Some birds are in nonbreeding plumage and some appear in full breeding plumage. Occasionally found in Andean Lakes.

Name in Spanish: Pato de Ala Azul.

Sub-species: Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) Linnaeus, 1766.

Meaning of Name: Spatula: L. Spoon, in reference to the shape of its bill. discors: L. different, unlike.

Formerly known as Anas discors (2017).

See more of the Family Anatidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
blue-winged tealVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 11/09/2014.