Anas crecca
(Green-winged Teal)

Physical Description:
Size: 12.5-15.5" (32-39 cm). The smallest dabbling duck. Male: compact, gray body separated by a vertical white from the pinkish speckled breast. Head chestnut-brown with a green patch around and behind the eye. Cream-colored patch under dark tail. Female is dark gray-brown with buff under-tail. In flight, both sexes show a green speculum on the wing. No other pattern on the top or bottom of wing in flight.

Similar Species- The Cinnamon Teal and Blue- winged Teal have blue or white patches on the upper wings. In flight male Blue-winged Teal shows dark belly. Females of Cinnamon Teal and Blue-winged Teal are larger and longer billed.

Song:
Male gives a series of high, whistle-like Dreeep's. Female, a low quack.

Distribution:
Breeds from north-central Alaska and northwestern and central Canada, south to California, northern New Mexico, northern Great Plains states, Ohio, western New York, Maine, and Nova Scotia. Winters in U.S., south to central Mexico.

Habitat
Found on freshwater ponds, marshes, and shallow edges of lakes. In Idaho, found at low and medium elevations on streams, ponds, irrigation ditches, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. During migration and in winter, found on shallow, salt or brackish water and along shores.

Diet:
Eats aquatic plants, seeds of sedges, smartweeds, pondweeds, grasses, aquatic insects, mollusks, crustaceans, tadpoles, berries, grapes, and acorns. Will eat waste grain in fall.

Ecology:
Builds well-hidden nest on ground. Dabbles in shallow water, and forages on land.

Reproduction:
Female incubates 7-15 eggs (usually 8-9) for 21-23 days. Male abandons female early in incubation. Female tends nestlings, which are precocial and become independent in about 23 days. Young have fastest growth rate of all North American waterfowl.

Conservation:

Element Code:	ABNJB10010
Status:	Game species
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S4
National Rank:	-

Important State References:
No references are available at this time.