Photo: ADJ82 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 359 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Spatula
- Species discors
Quick facts
- Weight
- 359 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue-winged Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Blue-winged Teal is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA s Canada and USA.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 359 g, with a wing length of about 17.8 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue-winged Teal?
The Blue-winged Teal is a large bird that weighs around 359 g.
Where does the Blue-winged Teal live?
The Blue-winged Teal is found across North America with a range covering NA s Canada and USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Blue-winged Teal belong to?
The Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Blue-winged Teal eat?
The Blue-winged Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Blue-winged Teal migrate?
The Blue-winged Teal is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Blue-winged Teal endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Blue-winged Teal make?
1 real field recording of the Blue-winged Teal — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue-winged Teal's range?
The Blue-winged Teal has a mapped global range of about 8.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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