Cinnamon Teal Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCinnamon Teal
Male
Breeding males have a deep brownish-red body with a long black bill, red eye, and a black back and rear.
© Ad Konings / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 03, 2021Female
Females and nonbreeding males have a coarsely marked brown body with faint darker eyeline and cap, and a long black bill.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, April 15, 2019Typically found in shallow freshwater wetlands such as marshes, flooded fields and ditches, ponds, and slow streams.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 13, 2005Not all videos have sound
Male
Occurs in freshwater marshes with emergent vegetation and other types of wetlands.
© German Garcia / Macaulay LibraryCiudad de México, October 27, 2018Male
In flight note the green secondaries and powdery-blue shoulder.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryOregon, May 23, 2019Male and female
Note the plain-faced look on the female and the bright cinnamon-colored male.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 02, 2016Molting male
Males in nonbreeding plumage are more subdued in coloration. Their red eyes help to differentiate them from similar nonbreeding Blue-winged Teal.
© Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, December 13, 2020Male
In flight shows bright white underwings.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 28, 2017Nonbreeding male
Males have bright powder blue wing patches in breeding and nonbreeding plumages.
© Ad Konings / Macaulay LibraryTexas, September 15, 2020Female and chick
Average clutch size ranges from 8–11.
© Mark Baldwin / Macaulay LibraryOregon, August 03, 2021Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Teal
Breeding male
Male Blue-winged Teal have a white crescent on the face that Cinnamon Teal lack and a dark (not cinnamon) head.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 08, 2016Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Teal
Female/nonbreeding male
Female Blue-winged Teal have a more heavily patterned face and body with with a stronger eyeline. Also note the white patch at the base of the bill on Blue-winged Teals but not on female Cinnamon Teals. Blue-wings also have a slightly smaller bill.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 08, 2015Similar SpeciesNorthern Shoveler
Breeding male
Northern Shovelers are larger than Cinnamon Teal with a white (not cinnamon) breast.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 28, 2017Similar SpeciesNorthern Shoveler
Female/immature
Northern Shovelers are larger with a bigger orange bill than Cinnamon Teal. The face is darker and more streaked than female/nonbreeding Cinnamon Teal.
© Brendan Fogarty / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 15, 2017Similar SpeciesGreen-winged Teal
Breeding male and female (American)
Green-winged Teal are smaller than Cinnamon Teal with a green speculum (wing patch) and no blue in the forewing.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryColorado, March 31, 2009Similar SpeciesGreen-winged Teal
Female
Green-winged Teal are smaller and have a smaller bill than Cinnamon Teal.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 21, 2011Similar SpeciesRuddy Duck
Breeding male
Ruddy Ducks have a large white face patch that Cinnamon Teals lack. Breeding male Ruddies have a bright-blue bill.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryBayern, July 10, 2009Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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