Fun Blue-winged Teal Facts For Kids

Divya Raghav
Nov 15, 2022 By Divya Raghav
Originally Published on Aug 05, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Fact-checked by Sakshi Kashyap
The best Blue-Winged Teal facts include one that these birds migrate all the way to the north during spring. This is known as the spring migration.
?
Age: 3-18
Read time: 7.1 Min

The first formal portrayal of the winged teal bluebird was by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in the twelfth version of his Systema Naturae. He authored the binomial name Anas discors.

A sub-atomic phylogenetic study looking at mitochondrial DNA successions distributed in 2009 tracked down that the genus Anas, as then characterized, was non-monophyletic. Their class was further separated into four monophyletic genera with ten species including this bird moving into the restored family of Spatula. This variety had been initially proposed by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1822.

The name Spatula is Latin for a 'spoon' or 'spatula'. 'Discord' is Latin for 'different' or 'at variance'.

They are by and large the first ducks found in the south during the fall and the last ones north in the spring. Grown-up drakes withdraw the favorable places a long time before the females and young ones.

Most of these bird flocks seen after mid-September are made generally out of grown-up hens and immatures. The habitat in the northern areas experiences a consistent decrease in their populaces from early September until early November.

These, in focal relocation regions, will stay through September, and after that point, their numbers decrease quickly during October, with little numbers staying until December. Enormous quantities of these ducks show up on wintering grounds in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas in September.

If you liked reading these facts, you could also check our facts about Tawny Eagle and Tawny Owl.

Blue-Winged Teal Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Blue-Winged Teal?

Blue-Winged Teals belong to the category of birds. They are little dabbling ducks that are smaller than a Mallard and just a touch bigger than a Green-Winged Teal.

What class of animal does a Blue-Winged Teal belong to?

The North American Blue-Winged Teal belongs to the Aves class of animal.

How many Blue-winged Teals are there in the world?

A scientific study on the population of Blue-Winged Teal is yet to be conducted. But it is known that it is an abundant duck species and is therefore categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Where does a Blue-Winged Teal live?

Blue-Winged Teal can be found all through North America, from southeastern Alaska to the Atlantic coast mid-year. They are found in the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana. In the colder months, they relocate toward the southern lands of the U.S. and further into Central and South America.

What is a Blue-Winged Teal's habitat?

Blue-Winged Teal build their nest among grass and herbaceous vegetation, wetlands, and rummage during summer in shallow lakes or lake bog blends of water. They are flightless during their molting period, and they depend on potholes or shallow ponds to keep themselves hidden and away from predators.

Transients use vegetated wetlands, marshes around lakes, rice fields and regularly stop in freshwater or saline zones as opposed to saltwater.

On their U.S. wintering grounds, they live in new or harsh vegetated shallow wetlands with bunches of rotting natural vegetation. South of the U.S., they may utilize various natural habitats, including estuaries, wetlands, and mangroves.

Who do Blue-Winged Teals live with?

Blue-Winged Teal (spatula discors) live in pairs or small groups in wetlands. This is a bird that migrates for long distances to search for its habitat in winter.

How long does a Blue-Winged Teal live?

Botulism (Clostridium botulinum) and Avian cholera (Pasteurella multocida), both bacterial sicknesses, cause the Blue-Winged Teal's death when they are found in the water in their habitat. Blue-winged teals that do make it to adulthood have a lifespan of up to 17 years.

How do they reproduce?

The beginning of breeding among young Teal blue-winged birds frequently begins in late January or early February. In territories south of the favorite places. Blue-Winged Teal is among the last Fiddling Ducks to nest, for the most part settling between April 15 and May 15.

Not many homes are begun after mid-July. Blue-Winged Teal ducks commonly lay 10-12 eggs. Deferred nesting and rebuilding endeavors have a considerably more modest litter, averaging five to six eggs.

Litter size can likewise differ with the age of the hen. Yearlings tend to have a litter that's more modest. Brooding for these birds takes about 21-27 days, and a Blue-Winged Teal is explicitly considered an adult after their first winter.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of Winged Teal Blue Ducks (Anas Discors) is at Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Blue-Winged Teal Fun Facts

What do Blue-Winged Teals look like?

Breeding ducks, like the Blue-Winged Teal, have earth-colored bodies, with dim dotting on the bosom, slaty-blue head with a white crescent behind the bill, and a little white flank fixed before their dark back. In-flight, they uncover an intense powder-blue fix on their upper wing coverts.

Blue-Winged Teal

How cute are they?

These Winged Teal Bluebirds of North America are very cute and beautiful because of their colorful appearance and wings, and the white crescent behind their bill.

How do they communicate?

North American male Blue-Winged Teals make a bunch of sounds to attract females for breeding, including a shrill whistle 'peew' and low-pitched nasal 'paay'. Female ducks utilize boisterous quacks during the rearing season to speak with their mates and with their young.

How big is a Blue-Winged Teal?

The Winged Teal Blue North American bird species is 18.5-23 in (47-58 cm) long and 12-16 in (30-40 cm) tall.

How fast can a Blue-Winged Teal fly?

The Blue-Winged and Green-Winged Teal, thought by numerous trackers to be the quickest ducks, are really among the slowest, having a common flight speed of just 30 mph.

How much does a Blue-Winged Teal weigh?

The Winged Teal Bluebird, which is actually a Duck, weighs 11.3-13.1 oz (320-370 g).

What are their male and female names of the species?

Male Teal Blue-Winged species of North American birds are known as adult drakes, while female Teal Blue-Winged species of North American birds are known as adult hens.

What would you call a baby Blue-Winged Teal?

The baby of the species of this Teal Blue-Winged bird of South America is known as a duckling.

What do they eat?

Blue-Winged Teal eat oceanic bugs, for example, midge hatchlings, scavengers, shellfishes, and snails just as it eats vegetation and grains. Laying females generally eat protein-rich creature matter. In winter, seeds like rice, millet, water lilies are the prevalent food varieties.

Are they dangerous?

These birds are not dangerous and generally do not show any aggression towards people.

Would they make a good pet?

Blue-Winged Teals would not make good pets as they have to migrate during winters, and since they are captured, they will not be able to complete their migration. It is better to leave them as they are and not capture or cage them.

Did you know...

Some fun facts about the blue winged teal reveal fascinating facts about this creature. The reproducing range stretches out from east-focal Alaska and southern Mackenzie District east to southern Quebec and southwestern Newfoundland.

In the adjacent United States, it breeds from upper east California east to focal Louisiana, focal Tennessee, and the Atlantic Coast. The western Blue-Winged Teal possesses that piece of the breeding reach west of the Appalachian Mountains. The Atlantic Blue-Winged Teal homes along the Atlantic Coast from New Brunswick to Pea Island, North Carolina.

The female Blue Teal bird chooses where to make their nest by flying over potential home zones, arriving in an opening, and then strolling into green cover. The female may require a few days to make the nest on the site.

The males stand close by. Homes are regularly, in any event, a foot over the closest shallow water and covered by vegetation.

The female Winged Teal Blue then forms her nest by scratching her feet to make a roundabout. The female at that point lines it with dried grasses picked from around the nest, adding down and bosom quills.

Vegetation hides most nests on all sides and from a higher place. The completed nest is around eight creeps across, with an inside measurement of around 6 inches and 2 inches down.

The Blue-Winged Teal's call

The Blue-Winged Teal call is small yet distinct. Male ducks (Blue Teal) let out a shrill whistle 'peew' and low-pitched nasal 'paay'. The females utilize boisterous quacks. Blue-Winged Teals call out to each other during their breeding season, and females call out to their young ones.

When do Blue-Winged Teals migrate?

These birds are significant distance travelers, with certain birds heading right to South America for the colder time of year, so winter. In this way, they take off from the beginning of spring and fall migration, leaving their favorite places in the United States and Canada a long time before different species in the fall.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including blue jay, or palm warbler.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Blue-Winged Teal call coloring pages.

Blue-Winged Teal Facts

What Did They Prey On?

Insects, vegetation, aquatic invertebrates, grains

What Type of Animal were they?

Omnivore

Average Litter Size?

10

How Much Did They Weigh?

0.7-0.81 lb (320-370 g)

What habitat Do they Live In?

wetlands, lakes, ponds, marshes, shallow water streams

Where Do They Live?

north america, central america, south america

How Long Were They?

18.5-23 in (47-58 cm)

How Tall Were They?

12-16 in (30-40 cm)

Class

Aves

Genus

Spatula

Family

Anatidae

Scientific Name

Anas discors

What Do They Look Like?

Greyish blue, light brown

Skin Type

Feathers

What Are Their Main Threats?

snakes, mammals, Humans

What is their Conservation Status?

Least Concern
We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Divya Raghav

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

Divya Raghav picture

Divya RaghavBachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

With a diverse range of experience in finance, administration, and operations, Divya is a diligent worker known for her attention to detail. Born and raised in Bangalore, she completed her Bachelor's in Commerce from Christ University and is now pursuing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bangalore. Along with her professional pursuits, Divya has a passion for baking, dancing, and writing content. She is also an avid animal lover who dedicates her time to volunteering for animal welfare causes.

Read full bio >
Fact-checked by Sakshi Kashyap

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Political Science and International relations

Sakshi Kashyap picture

Sakshi KashyapBachelor of Arts specializing in Political Science and International relations

An experienced content strategist, Sakshi excels in helping brands increase their organic reach and revenue streams through creative content. With a focus on lead generation and engagement, she has delivered tangible results for her clients. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations from Calcutta University while working as a fact-checker.

Read full bio >