Green-winged Teal

A small, common, widespread duck. The male has a chestnut head, pinkish chest, pale gray sides, and a green ear patch. The female is similar to the Blue-winged Teal female, but has a smaller head and bill. Both male and female have an iridescent green patch on their wings. Green-winged Teals travel in large flocks of tight formation and at very high speeds, twisting and turning with miraculous precision. They are a noisy species. They breed in northern Alaska, Canada, and the northwest section of the U.S. and winter in the southern states and along the coast. A hardy species, they are among the last ducks to leave their winter habitat in the fall and the first to depart in the spring.