Green-winged Teal: how to recognise it
A bird seen on most continents. Learn the marks that make it easy to identify, then practise with real photographs in Lore.
Practise with real photosAll species guides
Photo © Smudge 9000 · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist · all photo credits
- Scientific name
- Anas crecca
- Family
- Ducks, Geese, and Swans
- Size
- About 36 cm
- Habitat
- Shallow pools, ditches and marshes
- Found in
- Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America and Oceania
The key marks
Tiny duck; the male has a chestnut head with a green band through the eye and a yellow triangle under the tail. Garganey male has a broad white eyebrow; females differ by face pattern.
Voice
The male gives a clear, bell-like 'krik-krik'.
Good to know
It is the smallest duck in Europe and can take off almost straight up from the water.
Do not confuse with
Compare it with the Garganey. Look at the marks above one by one rather than the overall colour, and practise telling the two apart with real photos.
Where and when
You can expect to find it in shallow pools, ditches and marshes. It is especially common in Japan. Distribution changes with the seasons and from year to year, so check a recent local observation source before you go looking.