I like spending time along the edge of marshes to observe and listen to the different waterfowl. My only complaint is the bugs but the bugs are why the birds are here. Seems we have to have both. This is a Cinnamon Teal. A beautiful bird in my eyes. Breeding males have a red eye, long dark bill, and mostly vivid rusty plumage, with brownish back, white underwing. Female, immature, and non breeding male are mostly rich brownish overall. All adults have sky-blue patch in open wing, similar to other teal and shovelers. I don’t see them often because their populations have declined since 1968, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, and they do prefer large permanent marshes, which I do not have near me.1 All information is from All About Birds by Cornell Labs I highly recommend you check out the link below to All About Birds and see their collection of photos of their wing colors.
4 Comments
Faye
He’s a beauty; floating along, making ripples on the water’s surface.
Monte Stevens
I was so impressed with his beauty! And, that eye!
Tom Dills
I see you are using the Cornell book. Are you also using their Merlin app? I assume so, but if not it is a fantastic way to identify birds. I can sit on my porch with it running, and it picks up the calls of numerous birds. Most of which I see at the feeders, but not all of them show themselves.
Very true about the bugs being an important part of the ecosystem!
Monte Stevens
Yes, I’m using both apps. I seem to be the slow learner with them. I ran into an ornithology student from CSU who introduced me to them. They seem to be very useful for me.