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Bird Identification

Cinnamon Teal

Anas cyanoptera L 16" (41cm)


play song/call for cinnamon teal

Illustration by Julie Zickefoose.

Primarily western in its distribution, the cinnamon teal is also a fairly frequent stray across the eastern United States as well. Drakes are unmistakable, with gorgeous bright rusty plumage over most of their bodies and deep red eyes. Females can be quite difficult to separate from blue-winged teal, but are usually less cleanly marked, and with a much warmer brown tone overall. Both sexes have a relatively long heavy bill.

Cinnamon teal breed from southwestern Canada through the mountain west and Pacific coast states. They winter along the California across the southwest into south Texas.

The female voice is coarse, high, less nasal than the green-winged. Males in display give a dry, chattering or rattling gredek, gredek.

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