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Cinnamon Teal Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    A relatively small duck with sizable head and rather long bill, longer than Blue-winged Teal’s but shorter than Northern Shoveler’s.

    Relative Size

    Larger than a Green-winged Teal, smaller than a Northern Shoveler.

    Relative Sizecrow sizedcrow-sized

    Measurements
    • Male
      • Length: 15.1-16.9 in (38.4-42.8 cm)
      • Weight: 11.8-14.1 oz (335-401 g)
      • Wingspan: 21.3-22.4 in (54-57 cm)
    • Female
      • Length: 14.2-16.6 in (36-42.3 cm)

Regional Differences

Only one subspecies (septentrionalium) occurs in North America. Another four subspecies occur in South America: tropica and borreroi are endemic to Colombia, while orinomus and cyanoptera are found from Peru southward. These subspecies differ in the intensity of rusty color in males, the extent of spotting in their plumage, and also in the degree of size difference between male and female.