Blue-Winged Teal

Description: Blue-winged teal are named for the patches of blue on their wings. Drakes have a white crescent on the fronts of their faces, green speculums, gray-blue heads, brown bodies, and black bills. Hens are mottled brown with dirty gray bills. Both drakes and hens have yellow-orange feet and legs. They have erratic flight patterns and are small in size. Drakes are slightly larger than hens. Average size: 14-16 inches. Average weight: ½-1 ¼ pounds.

Science: Their breeding range includes many northern and central US states, Canada, and parts of Alaska, with a large concentration in the prairie pothole region. Blue-winged teal prefer prairie grasslands near water. Their early migration begins in mid-August, with large flocks numbering in the thousands. Their winter range includes California, the Gulf states, and Mexico, where they’re found in coastal backwaters. They primarily eat aquatic plants, but sometimes eat aquatic invertebrates. The drake call is a peeping noise, whereas hens quack lightly. Their population is slowly increasing.

Hunting: Hunting techniques include the use of blinds, calls, and decoys, though they are also often pass-shot. Decoys and calls specifically for teal are readily available and effective. The eating quality is excellent.