Cinnamon Teal Identification: A Dazzling Duck of the Wetlands

The cinnamon teal (Spatula cyanoptera) is a small dabbling duck that belongs to the family Anatidae, which includes geese and swans. The male cinnamon teal has a distinctive reddish-brown plumage that makes it stand out among other ducks, especially in the breeding season. The female cinnamon teal is more subdued in color, with a mottled brown body and a pale brown head. Both sexes have a long and wide bill that is adapted for feeding on plants, mollusks, and aquatic insects in marshes and ponds.

Basic Description

The cinnamon teal is one of the smallest ducks in North America, measuring about 16 inches (41 cm) in length, with a wingspan of 22 inches (56 cm) and a weight of 14 ounces (400 g). The male cinnamon has a cinnamon-red head and body, with a brown back, a red eye, and a dark bill. The female has a mottled brown body, a pale brown head, brown eyes, and a gray bill. Both sexes have a blue patch on the forewing, bordered by a white stripe, and a green speculum (wing patch) with a white trailing edge. It has four subspecies, based on geographic variation in size, color, and habitat preference. These are:

Table of Contents

The northern cinnamon teal (S. c. septentrionalium), breeds from British Columbia to northwestern New Mexico, and winters in northwestern South America.
The tropical cinnamon teal (S. c. tropica), occurs in the Cauca Valley and Magdalena Valley in Colombia. This subspecies is restricted to lowland wetlands and is smaller and darker than the northern cinnamon.
Borrero’s cinnamon (S. c. borreroi), which occurs in the eastern Andes of Colombia and possibly northern Ecuador. This subspecies is larger and paler than the tropical cinnamon and inhabits high-altitude lakes and marshes. It is named after Colombian ornithologist José Ignacio Borrero, and may be extinct or very rare.
The Andean cinnamon (S. c. orinoma), which occurs in the Altiplano of Peru, northern Chile, and Bolivia. This subspecies is the largest and lightest of all, and lives in high-altitude wetlands above 3500 meters. It has a distinctive white patch on the wing coverts, which is absent in the other subspecies.

Find This Bird

The cinnamon teal is widely distributed in western North and South America, from British Columbia to northern Chile and Argentina. It is also found in some parts of the Caribbean and northern South America, where it winters. This is a migratory species, but its movements are not well understood. It generally migrates southward in the fall and northward in the spring, following the availability of food and water. However, some populations may be resident or nomadic, depending on local conditions. It is also known to interbreed with the closely related blue-winged teal (S. discors), which has a similar range and habitat, but a different plumage pattern.

The cinnamon teal duck is a common and widespread species, but it may be locally rare or absent in some areas. It prefers shallow freshwater or alkaline lakes, ponds, and marshes with dense vegetation. It may also use brackish or saline wetlands, but generally not coastal salt marshes. It is often seen in pairs or small flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of ducks. It is usually more secretive and less vocal than other teal species and may be overlooked or misidentified. To find this bird, look for its distinctive color and shape, and listen for its whistling and clicking calls. You can also use the eBird website or app to see where and when this bird has been reported by other birders.

Other Names

The cinnamon teal is also known by other names, such as red teal, red-breasted teal, cinnamon duck, and Canela (Spanish for cinnamon). The scientific name of the cinnamon teal is Spatula cyanoptera, which means “blue-winged spatula”, referring to its blue forewing and its wide bill. The genus name Spatula was formerly assigned to the northern shoveler (S. clypeata), another duck with a similar bill shape, but was later transferred to the cinnamon teal and its relatives. The species name cyanoptera comes from the Greek words kyanos, meaning “dark blue”, and pteron, meaning “wing”.

Compare with Similar Species

The cinnamon teal is most similar to the blue-winged teal (S. discors), which is its closest relative and sometimes hybridizes with it. The male blue-winged teal has a white crescent on the face that the cinnamon teal lacks, and a dark (not cinnamon) head. The female blue-winged teal has a more heavily patterned face and body, with a stronger eyeline. Also note the white patch at the base of the bill on blue-winged teals, but not on female cinnamon teals. Blue-wings also have a slightly smaller bill than cinnamon.

This duck may also be confused with the green-winged teal (S. crecca), which is smaller and has a green speculum (wing patch) and no blue in the forewing. The male green-winged teal has a chestnut head with a green eye patch, while the female green-winged teal has a dark eyeline and a white spot near the bill. The green-winged teal also has a smaller bill than the cinnamon.

The cinnamon teal female is larger and has a longer bill than the ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), which is another duck with reddish plumage. The male ruddy duck has a large white face patch that the cinnamon teal lacks, and a bright-blue bill. The female ruddy duck has a dark cap and a white cheek patch. The ruddy duck also has a stiff tail that it often holds upright, unlike the cinnamon.

This duck is smaller and has a different bill shape than the northern shoveler (S. clypeata), which is another duck with a blue forewing. The male northern shoveler has a white (not cinnamon) breast and a green head, while the female northern shoveler has a darker and more streaked face than the female cinnamon. The northern shoveler also has a very large and spatulate bill, which is orange in color.

FAQ’s:

Q1: What is the meaning of cinnamon teal?

The term “cinnamon teal” refers to a species of dabbling duck with distinctive cinnamon-colored plumage, particularly in the male.

Q2: What is a fact about cinnamon teal?

Cinnamon are known for their striking cinnamon-red plumage, especially on the males. This vibrant coloration sets them apart from other duck species.

Q3: What is the body type of a cinnamon teal?

This duck has a relatively compact and streamlined body type, typical of dabbling ducks. They are medium-sized with a distinctive reddish-brown plumage.

Q4: Is a cinnamon teal rare?

While not considered extremely rare, This is not as common as some other duck species. Its population can vary, and it may be more prevalent in specific regions.