Blue Winged Teal
Very common both in the wild and in captivity, the Blue-winged Teal is known by two subspecies the Atlantic (A. d. orphna) and the Prairie (A. d. discors). Both subspecies are very similar to one another and probably interbreed. The Atlantic Blue-wing breeds in the tidal marshes along the Atlantic coast from Canada to the Carolinas and winters in the West Indies and South America. However, some birds remain resident year round in the middle seciton of the range. The Prairie Blue-winged Teal breeds in the central plains of North America, from Canada to New Mexico and Texas. Winters from the Gulf Coast States to norhtern South America. The Blue-winged Teal is mostly all brown, with males having a slate-blue head with a white crescent in front of the eye. The speculum is metallic green below the light blue forewing for which this species is named. Hens resemble Cinnamon Teal hens, but lighter. The bill is black; legs and feet are yellow.
