Blue-winged teal

Scientific name: Spatula discors

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males display a distinctive white facial crescent, slate-blue head, and chestnut breast; females are mottled brown with a whitish face patch. Both sexes show powder-blue wing coverts in flight and are among the smallest dabbling ducks.

Size and weight

Males 370–530 g (avg. 450 g), females 340–460 g (avg. 400 g); body length 37–41 cm.

Habitat

Blue-winged teal favor shallow freshwater marshes, prairie potholes, and wetlands with emergent vegetation and open water. They occupy lowland to mid-elevation wetland complexes across temperate and boreal zones.

Distribution

Breeds across North American prairie pothole region and boreal wetlands from central Canada to the northern Great Plains; winters in Central and South America. Rare vagrant to Europe and Asia.

Diet

Blue-winged teal feed primarily on small aquatic invertebrates and seeds from aquatic plants, with preference shifting to animal matter during breeding season and more plant material in fall.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious and restless, often seen in loose flocks; predominantly diurnal feeders but active throughout daylight hours. They are swift, agile fliers and undertake long migrations between breeding and wintering grounds.

Hunting tips

Glass shallow marshes and prairie potholes during dawn and dusk when birds are most active. Approach using marsh vegetation and water channels; these ducks are wary and flush readily, so concealment and minimal movement are critical. Decoys are effective in shallow water; approach calls and wing-whistle sounds can draw birds within range.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 13 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.