Cinnamon Teal

General Description

In many ways, the striking Cinnamon Teal is similar to the Blue-winged Teal and the Northern Shoveler, intermediate in size and overlapping habitat. The male Cinnamon Teal in breeding plumage is one of the most striking of Washington's waterfowl, with a deep, overall cinnamon color and red eyes. Females, juveniles, and males in eclipse plumage are mottled brown and look very similar to the closely related female Blue-winged Teal. However the Cinnamon Teal is slightly larger and has a longer, wider bill. Both sexes have green-black speculums with pale blue patches on the forewing.

Cinnamon Teals are Common in Western Washington from March-Early October.

Habitat

Cinnamon Teal are found in small, shallow, freshwater wetlands with emergent vegetation.

Behavior

Cinnamon Teal forage in shallow water, swimming forward with their heads partly submerged and filtering mud through their bills. These birds sometimes follow each other, taking advantage of food stirred up by the first bird. They occasionally feed on land near water. Cinnamon Teal, like most dabblers, form pairs before arriving on the breeding groun

Female

Male non-breeding

Male Breeding