Green Winged Teal Ducks

Green Winged Teal Ducks

A PAIR is a male/female pair of unrelated birds.

• Breeding season late April to early June
• Clutch size 6-10 eggs
• Incubation period 21-23 days 
•  11 ounces

The Green-Winged Teal, Anas carolinensis, is the smallest dabbling duck native to North America.

Green-Winged Teal are agile on the ground and in water as well as in the air. Males are strikingly colored with bright, metallic-green speculum feathering as well as a deep green band across the head and over the eyes. Males also have chestnuts coloring over the top and lower part of the heads, a slate black bill, and elaborate barring and vermiculation over their sides and back. Legs and feet are gray. From afar, males will appear mostly light gray, with the dark head, buff-colored upper breast, and a bright white slash along the side of the breast. Females could be mistaken for small mallards, as they are duller and far less striking than the males, as is usual with ducks from Northern climates. Males in eclipse are colored similarly to the females.

Housing Requirements: Because of their extremely small size, Green-Winged Teal can easily fit through two-inch openings in aviary wiring. Except for this, they are easy to keep and breed in captivity. Green-Winged Teal are cold-hardy and are usually very compatible with other species of waterfowl. Just be careful that other larger species don't bully these tiny ducks. The aviary or enclosure will also need to be covered as these ducks do fly. And be sure to provide adequate protection against predators.

Diet: Green Winged Teal forage in shallow water by tipping up, and they also feed on land. The diet is mostly vegetarian. An 18% protein commercial duck or waterfowl diet is recommended in captivity.