Anas cyanoptera
When the morning sun strikes a spring wetland, male Cinnamon Teals glow upon the waters like embers. These handsome ducks are frequently seen swimming along the surface of wetlands, their heads partially submerged, skimming aquatic life from the pond's surface. Often, a series of ducks can be seen following a lead foraging individual, taking advantage of the sediments the lead duck stirs up with its paddling feet. Female Cinnamon Teals have been known to put on a 'broken wing' act to distract predators from their ducklings. The male Cinnamon Teal, unlike most male ducks, often stays with his mate through most of the incubation; sometimes the male has been seen accompanying his mate and her brood. The scientific name-from cyano, 'blue,' and ptera, 'wing'-reinforces the similarities of this species to the Blue-winged Teal, with which it has been known to interbreed. |
I.D.: General: long, broad bill; blue forewing patch; green speculum. Male: rich cinnamon-red head, neck and underparts; red eyes. Female: mottled brown overall; dark eyes. Size: L 15-17 in. (38-43 cm). Range: common summer breeder in the southern and central U.S. Rockies; uncommon migrant in the Canadian Rockies. Habitat: shallow wetlands with extensive emergent vegetation and sedge beds. Nesting: in tall vegetation, occasionally far from water; nest is in a concealed hollow and is built with grass and down; female incubates 7-12 eggs for 21-25 days; ducklings fly after 7 weeks. Feeding: gleans the water surface for grass and sedge seeds, pondweeds, duckweeds and aquatic invertebrates. Voice: Male: whistled peep. Female: rough karr, karr, karr. Similar Species: Ruddy Duck: male has a white cheek and a blue bill. Green-winged Teal: gray body; white shoulder slash; green streak trailing from each eye. |
