WATERFOWL of North America
The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie Goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. All species in the order are web-footed for efficient swimming and have a large wide bill with a specialized tongue that allows water to be sucked in the front of the bill. An array of plates traps food particles as the water is expelled out the sides of the bill. Not all species feed this way, some graze on plants and some also catch fish. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Teals
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae
Teals belong to genus Anas as is also true for dabbling ducks. Teals have been given their own web page as an arbitrary way to split the presentation of this large genus. Teals do not totally submerge when feeding and are often seen with just their rears showing as the search for food. Because of their feeding method, teals have evolved to be more buoyant than diving ducks.
Genus Anas
Teal, Blue-winged Anas discors Found: The Americas
Breeding male has a grayish blue head with a white facial crescent, a light brown body with a white patch near the rear and a black tail. The adult female and nonbreeding male are mottled brown, have pronounced white eye-arcs, and have a whitish area at base of bill. This white on the female continues to the neck. Both sexes have yellowish legs.
Similar to: Cinnamon Teal. Female Blue-winged Teals and nonbreeding male Blue-winged Teals have black eye-lines. Female Cinnamon Teals and nonbreeding male Cinnamon Teals have negligible black eye-lines.
Similar to: Cinnamon Teal. Female Blue-winged Teals and nonbreeding male Blue-winged Teals have black eye-lines. Female Cinnamon Teals and nonbreeding male Cinnamon Teals have negligible black eye-lines.
4) Dick Daniels -Assateague Virginia 5) Dick - Sylvan Heights 6) Dan Pancamo - Texas
1) Nonbreeding male 2, 3) Male, female pair 4, 5, 6) Breeding males
Teal, Cinnamon Anas cyanoptera Found: The Americas
The adult male has a cinnamon-red head and body with a brown back, red eyes and a dark bill. The adult female has a mottled brown body, a pale brown head, brown eyes, diffuse white eye-arcs, and a long grey bill. The nonbreeding male resembles the female, but with a reddish mottled body and red eyes. Both sexes have yellowish legs.
Similar to: Blue-winged Teal. Female Blue-winged Teals and nonbreeding male Blue-winged Teals have black eye-lines. Female Cinnamon Teals and nonbreeding male Cinnamon Teals have negligible black eye-lines.
Similar to: Blue-winged Teal. Female Blue-winged Teals and nonbreeding male Blue-winged Teals have black eye-lines. Female Cinnamon Teals and nonbreeding male Cinnamon Teals have negligible black eye-lines.
4) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo 5) Dick - Sylvan Heights 6) Dick - Sylvan Heights
1, 2) Pair 3) Female 4, 5, 6) Male
Teal, Green-winged Anas carolinensis . Found: North America
Until recently, the Eurasian Teal and Green-winged Teal were considered to be the same species. Some still consider them to be conspecific. The breeding male Green-winged Teal has a vertical white stripe on the side of the breast, the breeding Eurasian Teal does not. The species are difficult to differentiate for nonbreeding males and also females.
Similar to: Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal. The female Green-winged Teal can be differentiated from these other teals by its dark eye-line.
Similar to: Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal. The female Green-winged Teal can be differentiated from these other teals by its dark eye-line.
5, 6, 7) Dick - Sylvan Heights 8) Robert Olson - mounted
1, 2, 3) Female 5, 6, 7) Male
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.