Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Alternate names: Bluewing, Teal

Length: 16 in
Weight: 15 oz

Calls

Blue-winged Teal are soft callers – males give quick whistled peeps, while females use short, quiet quacks similar to a miniature Mallard.

Males: High-pitched, whistling “peep” or “peep-peep” calls, rapid and clear, most often heard in flight or during courtship.
Females: Soft, nasal “quack-quack” calls that are low and subdued, generally used for communication in small groups.

Hear it in the app

Overview

The blue-winged teal is a small, fast-flying dabbling duck, highly prized by hunters for its early migration. Males have a distinct powder-blue patch on their forewings, a white facial crescent, and a speckled brown body, while females are mottled brown with less prominent blue wing markings. Their compact size, fast erratic flight, and early migration during the hunting season can make them tricky to hunt. Typically found in shallow wetlands, these ducks are often seen in flocks and can be easily identified by their rapid wingbeats and compact bodies.

Identification

Blue winged teal hen — HenPhoto: Grayson Smith/USFWS

Large bill, rounded head, slaty-blue head (male), white facial crescent (male), brown-speckled breast (male), powder-blue upper-wing patch (in flight), cold patterned brown plumage (female), small dabbling duck, dabbling feeding habits, long-distance migratory behavior

Blue-winged teal are small, early-migrating dabblers found in marshes, shallow ponds, and flooded fields. They’re fast flyers with rapid, erratic wingbeats and often travel in tight groups. When flushed or flying overhead, the pale blue shoulder patch and green speculum stand out. Hunters often see them in September before the main push of big ducks arrives. Their size and flight style help separate them from larger ducks like gadwalls or mallards.

Drake

Males have a dark gray head with a bold white crescent in front of the eye. Their body is mottled with a warm brown chest and pale blue on the upper wing, visible at rest or in flight. On the wing, the white crescent and blue shoulder flash quickly and set them apart from other teal or shovelers.

Hen

Females are mottled tan-brown with a plain face and dark eye-line. They lack the crescent but show the same powder-blue shoulder in flight, often with a quick flick of green from the trailing speculum. Compared to green-winged teal, females appear lighter overall and lack the compact shape and metallic green wing flash.