Where do blue wing teal migrate from?

Where do blue-winged teals go in the winter?

Although small numbers of blue-winged teal winter in the extreme southern U.S., most of the birds continue flying south to wintering areas in Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Do teal birds cross the equator?

A few wayfaring individuals cross the equator, including a blue-winged teal banded near Renoun, Saskatchewan, which was shot six months later in Peru-7,000 miles away. Cinnamon teal, which have similar migration habits as blue-winged teal, largely winter in Mexico and Central America, where they intermingle with wintering bluewings in some areas.

Is the blue-winged teal a migratory bird?

The Blue-winged Teal is an early migratory bird. They are among the first birds to migrate South for the Winter and one of the last to migrate North in the Spring. Click below for more information on the flight surey of the Blue-winged Teal and other birds.

Where do blue winged teal ducks live?

Pairs and small groups of this tiny dabbling duck inhabit shallow ponds and wetlands across much of North America. Blue-winged Teal are long distance migrants, with some birds heading all the way to South America for the winter.

Can you see blue winged teal in Washington State?

Blue-winged Teal are extremely rare in Washington during winter. They typically arrive in mid-April and depart by the end of September. West of the Cascades they are uncommon breeders, and their range is somewhat limited to freshwater wetlands in the Puget Trough and coastal areas.

What kind of bird is a blue-winged teal?

Blue-winged teal. The blue-winged teal ( Spatula discors) is a species of bird in the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae. One of the smaller members of the dabbling duck group, it occurs in North America, where it breeds from southern Alaska to Nova Scotia, and south to northern Texas.

Where do blue-winged teals winter?

The blue-winged teal winters from southern California to western and southern Texas, the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast and south to Central and South America. It is often seen wintering as far south as Brazil and central Chile.

Where do birds cross the equator?

Several North American and Eurasian birds cross the equator to spend winter in deeper and warmer parts of South America and Africa. The American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica) passes the nine months of winter 8,000 miles south in the plains of Argentina, thus, enjoying two summers each year and knows not a hint of winter.

How many species of quails are there in Ecuador?

Fourteen species have been recorded in Ecuador. The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. Six species have been recorded in Ecuador.

Why do birds cross the equator in winter?

During winter, when the northern hemisphere becomes covered with ice and snow, these birds move towards South for shelter. Several North American and Eurasian birds cross the equator to spend winter in deeper and warmer parts of South America and Africa.

What does a blue winged Teal bird look like?

Blue-winged Teal are small dabblers with long bodies and bills. Males in breeding plumage have russet-colored bodies with small, dark spots, black undertail coverts, and white patches on their flanks. Their heads are dark blue-gray with a distinctive white crescent in front of each eye.

Do blue-winged teal migrate?

Blue-winged teal are not able to endure the cold weather and are some of the first to migrate south in the fall and the last to head back north in the spring. Although some spend winter along coastal areas of the southern U.S., most migrate to Mexico or South America.

How common are blue-winged teal ducks in North America?

Blue-winged Teal are the second most abundant duck in North America, behind the Mallard. Populations remained stable between 1966 and 2014, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey.

What is the habitat of a teal duck?

About Teal Ducks. Teal are dabbling ducks that are found primarily in shallow freshwater areas. Their preferred habitats include marshes, ponds, rivers, swamps, flooded agricultural fields, and similar riparian areas with suitable vegetation and shelter. Some variety of teal are found on every continent except Antarctica.

Where do blue-winged teals live?

Blue-winged teal are commonly found in very shallow water sifting for invertebrates. During their fall migration and winter, they can be found on almost any shallow water body, including flooded crop fields and coastal marshes.

What does a blue-winged Teal bird look like?

Status: Fairly common to locally common summer resident, mostly east. Blue-winged Teal are small dabblers with long bodies and bills. Males in breeding plumage have russet-colored bodies with small, dark spots, black undertail coverts, and white patches on their flanks.

Where do blue-winged teal live?

Blue-winged Teal inhabit shallow wetlands with emergent vegetation. Their breeding habitat is usually open-country wetlands. During migration they are sometimes found over the ocean, many miles from shore.

What months do blue-winged teals migrate?

General Description. Males migrate again from mid-July to mid-August, moving to larger marshes to undergo their molt. Fall migration starts in early August, and most birds are gone by mid-October. Numbers of Blue-winged Teal nesting in Washington have increased dramatically in the last century.

What kind of teals are in Washington State?

The green-winged teal is by far the most common of three teal species found in Washington. The other subspecies are the blue-winged teal and cinnamon teal.

Where do blue-winged teals nest?

They are often around the edges of ponds under vegetation, choosing a concealed spot to forage or rest. Habitat Look for Blue-winged Teal on calm bodies of water from marshes to small lakes. The prairie-pothole region is the heart of their breeding range, where they thrive in grassy habitats intermixed with wetlands.