Bird
Cinnamon Teal
Spatula cyanopteraCinnamon teal dabble through warm, shallow marshes across the Americas, sifting nutrient-rich waters for seeds and small aquatic invertebrates with finely serrated bills. Males stand out vividly during the breeding season with rich copper plumage and sky-blue forewing patches, while females wear mottled brown camouflage suitable for concealing nests in dense shoreline reeds. Unlike most dabbling ducks, they frequently form monogamous pairs that remain bonded across consecutive breeding cycles in milder southern latitudes.
AquaticMigratoryColorful
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPondweed seeds, Midge larvae, Aquatic snails
Predators
- Peregrine Falcon
- Northern Harrier
- Coyote
ThreatsWetland drainage, drought, water diversion, and lead poisoning from spent ammunition
HabitatsFreshwater marshes, alkaline wetlands, shallow ponds, and flooded agricultural fields
Life span8–12 years
Classification
- FamilyAnatidae
- SpeciesSpatula cyanoptera
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Viewing distance: Use spotting scopes from designated bird blinds to avoid flushing birds from cover.
- Best season: Watch marsh edges during spring courtship when males actively display their rufous feathers.
Frequent Companion This picture was realized by Richard Bartz by using a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Daniel Benák, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family (c) Daniel Pineda Vera, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Pineda Vera · cc-by
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