The cinnamon teal is a species of duck found in western North and South America. It is a small dabbling duck, with bright reddish plumage on the male and duller brown plumage on the female. It lives in marshes and ponds, and feeds mostly on plants. The cinnamon teal duck is closely related to the north american dabbling duck.(Wilson et al.)
Region
Western Americas
Typical Environment
Breeds in the western United States and southwestern Canada, with wintering grounds extending through Mexico and into Central America. In South America it occurs along the Andes and adjacent lowlands from Colombia and Ecuador south through Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Prefers shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands, marshes, ponds, and slow backwaters with emergent vegetation. Frequently uses seasonal wetlands, alkaline lakes, and irrigated fields during migration and winter.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 4500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Males show a striking rich cinnamon-red body with a bright red eye, while females are mottled brown and easily confused with female Blue-winged Teal. Both sexes display a pale blue shoulder patch and green speculum visible in flight. Cinnamon Teal often hybridize with Blue-winged Teal where ranges overlap. North American populations migrate to Mexico and Central America, whereas many South American birds are resident or short-distance movers.
Temperament
wary but social
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; agile flier
Social Behavior
Forms small flocks outside the breeding season and often associates with other dabbling ducks. Pairs form in late winter to early spring; nests are concealed on the ground near water in dense vegetation. Typical clutches are 8–10 eggs, and females incubate while males remain nearby. Occasional nest parasitism (dump nesting) occurs among females.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Males give thin, high whistled peeps and trills, especially in courtship and flight. Females produce harsher, rasping quacks and scolds. Flock chatter is soft and intermittent while feeding or loafing.
Plumage
Male with uniform rich cinnamon body, darker back, black rump and tail; pale blue forewing and glossy green speculum; head slightly darker cinnamon. Female mottled brown with dusky streaking, pale eyebrow, and similar blue shoulder patch; both sexes show a white border on the speculum in flight.
Diet
Primarily consumes seeds and leaves of aquatic plants, pondweeds, grasses, and sedges, obtained by dabbling and filter-feeding with the lamellate bill. Supplements diet with aquatic invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and mollusks, especially in the breeding season. Ducklings rely heavily on small invertebrates for protein during rapid growth.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in shallow, calm waters along vegetated margins of marshes, ponds, flooded fields, and slow streams. Often tips up to reach submerged plant material and sieves surface scum and mud in the shallows.
