What Duck Has Blue On Its Wings?

The blue-winged teal are the second most abundant duck in North America, behind the mallard. Like other teal, they are the half-pints of the duck world. About half the size of a mallard, the blue-winged teal are easily recognized by their grey-blue shoulder patch and by the male’s white head-crescent and flank patch.

What kind of duck has a blue wing?

Blue-Winged Ducks of the World Seven “blue-winged ducks” occur worldwide, with at least one on every continent except Antarctica. This group includes three small-bodied teal (blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal and garganey) and four shovelers (northern shoveler, cape shoveler, red shoveler and Australasian shoveler).

Why do ducks have blue wings?

The speculum is a patch of often iridescent color on the secondary wing feathers of most duck species. It is often seen as a bright patch of color on the rear of the wing when the wing is spread during flight or when the bird is stretching, preening, or landing.

Why do mallard ducks have a blue feather?

A very common example is the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), with the blue-coloured speculum of both the male and female, and the green head feathers of the male. The iridescent colours arise from light interacting with stacks of melanosomes, melanin-pigment containing organelles, present in the feather barbules.

Is teal a type of duck?

Teals are small dabbling ducks. Males have chestnut coloured heads with broad green eye-patches, a spotted chest, grey flanks and a black edged yellow tail.

Is blue-winged teal rare?

Blue-winged teal are rare in the desert southwest, and the west coast. The breeding habitat of the blue-winged teal is marshes and ponds. The breeding range extends from east-central Alaska and southern Mackenzie District east to southern Quebec and southwestern Newfoundland.

How do I know if I have blue wing teal?

Description. Male blue-winged teal have a slate gray head and neck, a black-edged white crescent in front of the eyes and a blackish crown. The breast and sides are tan with dark brown speckles and there is a white spot on the side of the rump.

Do male Mallards have blue on their wings?

Females and juveniles are mottled brown with orange-and-brown bills. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue “speculum” patch in the wing.

Do mallard ducks have blue feathers?

Mallard: Iridescent purple-blue with white edges. American black duck: Iridescent violet bordered in black and may have a thin white trailing edge.

How can you tell a duck from a teal?

For overhead birds, key on the dark breast and white underbelly. Teal: Obviously, because of their diminutive size, it’s tough to confuse bluewings or greenwings with other ducks. You can easily distinguish them from each other. Greenwings have a light belly and appear blockier yet more agile in flight.

Do female mallards have blue feathers?

Both male and female mallards have distinct iridescent purple-blue speculum feathers edged with white, which are prominent in flight or at rest but temporarily shed during the annual summer moult.

What is a blue mallard?

Gallery. Male and Female Blue-headed Mallard Blue-headed Mallard. As one of the most common ducks in North America, most everyone is familiar with the iridescent green head of the male mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).

Can ducks change gender?

Indeed ducks can change their gender. Gender change is common in ducks of all species. Nonetheless, only female ducks are capable of experiencing gender change. Furthermore, gender change in female ducks is rare since it doesn’t automatically mean all female ducks will lose their ovaries at some point.

Where can I get blue wing teal?

Pairs and small groups of this tiny dabbling duck inhabit shallow ponds and wetlands across much of North America. Blue-winged Teal are long distance migrants, with some birds heading all the way to South America for the winter.

Is teal more blue or green?

Is teal more green or blue? Teal is usually more green than blue, but it depends on what shade of teal you’re going for. Teal is actually a mix of green and cyan (also known as aqua), which is a lighter blue.

How big is a blue-winged teal?

14 to 15 inches
Females are smaller than males. Both have the powder-blue forewing patch and green on the back section of feather sknown as the speculum. The blue-winged teal typically grows to 14 to 15 inches in length, 10 to 18 ounces in weight and have a wingspan of 22 to 24 inches.

What does a female blue-winged teal look like?

Breeding males are brown-bodied with dark speckling on the breast, slaty-blue head with a white crescent behind the bill, and a small white flank patch in front of their black rear. Females and eclipse males are a cold, patterned brown. In flight, they reveal a bold powder-blue patch on their upperwing coverts.

Where do blue-winged teals live?

Blue-winged teals can be found in marshes, wetlands near lakes and ponds. During summer they are found throughout southern Canada/Alaska and the continental U.S.; during winter they migrate to the southern U.S., Mexico, and tropical South America.

What type of duck is this?

DuckRepresentative species

Is blue-winged teal good eating?

The incredible, edible teal. These zippy little birds are known the world over for their delicate fat, petite size, and mild flavor. Whether served whole, roasted with accompaniments, or doled-out as perfectly-portioned poppers, few would argue against their edibility.

What color is blue wing teal?

Blue-winged Teal are small dabblers with long bodies and bills. Males in breeding plumage have russet-colored bodies with small, dark spots, black undertail coverts, and white patches on their flanks. Their heads are dark blue-gray with a distinctive white crescent in front of each eye.