Common Green-winged Teal

Common Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca crecca), or Eurasian Green-winged Teal, and American Green-winged Teal were once considered two separate species and are now recognized as subspecies by some professional organizations, even though mallards and pintails are more closely related genetically than are Common Green-winged Teal and North American Green-winged teal! They are nearly identical, with the male Common Green-winged Teal lacking the white vertical stripes on the sides of their chest and usually displaying a horizontal stripe created by their creamy tertial feathers when at rest.

Common Green-winged Teal heads can appear quite large when compared to their overall small stature. The plumage on the head is rusty with a bright, thick stroke of teal green running above and below the eyes. The midsection plumage is highly vermiculated with grays, blacks, and whites, with the chest a being dappled light brown. Female Eurasian Green-winged Teal are brown with large, cream dapples from their chest to their underbellies. They have the same green secondary feathers that the males do. Juveniles and females have similar characteristics, and unlike other species, juveniles display more prominent plumage.

Common Green-winged Teal’s breeding grounds span across almost all the Palearctic region. During this time, individuals will forage for aquatic invertebrates in freshwater systems with dense and tall vegetation. For populations that breed in temperate Europe, wintering grounds often overlap with the breeding grounds; that population is considered to be residents. Wintering grounds range from the southern coast of Asia, most of India, northern coast of Africa, Spain, and Italy. Large proportions of Common Green-winged Teal rely on the areas surrounding the Mediterranean, Japan, Taiwan, and South Asia. Sightings have also been recorded in California and South Carolina. The majority of their winter diets is plant matter that can be found in brackish water, often near the seashore.

Common Green-winged Teal are gregarious outside of their breeding season. During this time, they will form large flocks that are easily identifiable due to their noisy behavior. While not quite being termed “loud,” males have a crisp and far-reaching cryc or creelyck whistle. Females usually have quiet quacks. During the breeding season pairs do not frequently engage with other individuals until the females have laid their eggs. At this time, males will meet in large groups to begin molting.