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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
American
green wing teal, green wing teal, mud teal |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae
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| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Anas
(duck) crecca (from the Swedish word, 'kricka',
meaning green wing teal) carolinensis (the
Carolinas) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
green wing teal is a medium-sized duck. In
color this teal is brown with a metallic green patch
from the eye back to the crest and a white belly.
The upper parts, including the tail, are dark brown,
and the wing features a bright green speculum that
may appear violet at certain angles. |
| FEMALE |
The
female is dark brown above with lighter breast and
flanks. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
31-40 cm (12.5-16 inches) long; wingspan 55-60 cm
(22-24 inches) |
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| WEIGHT: |
168-448 g (6-16 oz.) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
insects, seeds, and aquatic plants |
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| INCUBATION: |
Approximately 23-24 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
6-12
eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
25-30
days |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
1-2 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Averages
20-30 years |
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| RANGE: |
Canada
and northern United States; winters from the U.S.
to Central America |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
small and shallow permanent ponds in the vicinity
of woodlands with dense nesting foliage nearby |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Appendix
III |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
The
green wing teal is the smallest dabbling duck
native to America.
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| 2. |
It
is among the fastest fliers of the game birds, capable
of flying 60 mph, but usually flies 50 mph. |
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| 3. |
These
ducks travel in a tight "V" formation
at high speeds. |
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| 4. |
Teals
are good swimmers and divers. However, they rarely
dive for food, rather they dive to hide from a predator. |
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| 5. |
These
ducks are very active on foot, walking and running
for long distances. |
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| 6. |
Teals have one of the most elaborate mating dances
of all Anas species. |
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Green
wing teals are the second most commonly hunted
duck in North America (first are mallards), which
places pressure on their populations.
Their
wintering habitat has declined due to human population
increase. However, teal populations still remain
strong and are in fact increasing. Researchers
believe this is due to the inaccessibility of
their breeding habitat to humans, which is deep
in the wilderness. The wetlands that they inhabit
in the winter are being managed, more for waterfowl
in general, than for the green wing teal.
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|
|
| Austin,
G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press,
Inc., 1961. |
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| Gotch,
A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981. |
|
|
Johnsgard,
P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World.
Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press, 1978.
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| Reader's
Digest. Book of North American Birds. 1990.
Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville,
New York. |
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| Scott,
P. A Coloured Key of the Wildfowl of the World.
Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust. 1988. |
|
| Todd,
F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego,
Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996. |
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| http://nasa.utep.edu/chih/theland/animals/birds/acrecca.htm |
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