Cinnamon Teal – Length: 16 inches, Wing span: 22 inches
A small duck closely related to the Blue-winged Teal. The male Cinnamon Teal is easy to recognize by its dark reddish plumage. Female Cinnamon Teal, on the other hand, are very difficult to distinguish from female Blue-winged Teal except for having a larger bill and less distinctive facial markings.
A Cinnamon Teal’s home range may be about 19 acres, and home ranges of adjacent pairs may overlap. With an overall population size smaller than most other ducks, and identification difficulties with it close relative, population trends in the Cinnamon Teal is poorly understood.
Males have a dark red cinnamon colored body and a large bill. Photograph © Steve Wolfe.
Females are very similar to female Blue-winged Teal. With experience, the larger bill will be the tip off. Broken eye ring, dark line thorough the eye and pale spot behind the add less distinctive than with female Blue-winged but this is very difficult to judge. Otherwise best seen with male Cinnamon Teals. Photograph © Alan Wilson.
Upper wing coverts and speculum visible. Photograph © Sam Crowe.
Note the red eye and fairly large bill. Photograph © Alan Wilson.
Even with the head down, male Cinnamon Teals are hard to miss. Photograph © Sam Crowe.
Depending on the light, the male may appear to have more of a brick-red color. Photograph © Alan Wilson.
Pale under-wing markings, yellow feet and red eye. Photograph © Steve Wolfe.
While the body color is completely different than the male Blue-winged Teal, the upper wing pattern is almost identical. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
The blue upper primaries are visible, along with the yellow feet. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
This female has attracted a cohort of interested males. Photograph © Tom Grey.
Male Cinnamon Teal in eclipse plumage. Photograph © Tom Grey.
Female with young. Note the spatula-like bill, approaches that of the Northern Shoveler. Photograph © Tom Grey.
Male Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teals. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.