Blue-Winged Teal

Spatula discors

A small dabbling duck that flies from North America as far as South America each fall, flashing a powder-blue wing patch.

🦆 Waterfowl

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About the Blue-Winged Teal

Blue-winged teals spend summers in North America, from southern Alaska across Canada to the East Coast, and fly south in fall, sometimes as far as northern Chile and Argentina. They are among the first ducks to leave in fall and the last to return in spring. Breeding males have a slate-blue head with a white crescent by the bill; females are mottled brown.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Spatula discors^[1]
Diet: Seeds and roots of water plants, plus insects and crustaceans.^[1]
Habitat: Marshes, lakes and swamps; salt water and mangroves in winter.^[1]
Where it lives: Breeds in North America and winters as far south as South America.^[1]
Group life: New pairs form each winter or spring.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).^[2]

Fun facts

Blue-winged teals are among the first ducks to migrate in fall.^[1]
Some fly from Canada all the way to South America.^[1]
The blue wing patch is easiest to see when the duck flies.^[1]

Vocabulary

dabbling duck: A duck that feeds at the water's surface instead of diving.
migrate: To travel from one region to another as the seasons change.
crustacean: An animal with a hard outer shell and jointed legs, such as a crab or shrimp.
waterfowl: Ducks, geese and swans.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · BirdsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Blue-winged teal.” https://www.sfzoo.org/blue-winged-teal/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Spatula discors (Blue-winged Teal).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22680229/137731845 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

More Waterfowl

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White-Faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduataA long-necked duck of Africa and South America with a white face that whistles instead of quacking and often perches in trees.