The summer light slanting through reedy marshes in interior western North America makes the male Cinnamon Teal's rich scarlet plumage even more brilliant. Soon after mating, males shed their stunning plumage and become much more feminine and juvenile in appearance. They also start to resemble other teal species, particularly the Blue-winged Teal. To distinguish them, look for Cinnamon's longer and broader bill. In South America, the Cinnamon Teal inhabit a totally distinct population. Because it has separate mating populations in North America and South America, the Cinnamon Teal is rare among ducks. The Cinnamon Teal does not often breed in the midcontinent prairie-parkland region, unlike the majority of dabbling ducks in North America.
Cinnamon Teal Specifications
Cinnamon Teal ID
On the borders of shallow wetlands, in or near rushes, sedges, and reeds, watch for Cinnamon Teal feeding. The ideal times to search are typically early in the morning and late in the afternoon, and a spotting scope is useful (bird walk leaders usually bring one for a group to share). Male Cinnamon Teals that are not mating might be dull and difficult to see, but by midwinter, they moult back into their reddish body plumage. Although this species is native to the West, it occasionally occurs in the East, most notably in Florida.
