The Blue-winged Teal is one of the last ducks to arrive in spring and one of the first to depart in fall, many wintering as far south as Chile. The male has a blue-gray head with a bold white crescent in front of the eye and powder-blue wing patches visible in flight. It prefers shallow prairie potholes and marshes for breeding.
Best time to see a Blue-winged Teal
The best time to see a Blue-winged Teal is January–April, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 42,915 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Blue-winged Teal? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Blue-winged Teal sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Blue-winged Teal? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a Blue-winged Teal is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love birds? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.