Inexperienced-winged Teal are discovered throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Birds within the Previous World, Frequent Teal, breed from Europe via Asia to the Aleutian Islands. New World birds, Inexperienced-winged Teal, are discovered throughout Alaska and Canada to many components of the northern United States. The 2 populations are actually thought of to be races of the identical species. This standing could change, as a result of genetic analysis exhibits that, though the races share one haplotype, they in any other case have very totally different mitochondrial DNA.
Since shifting to Washington, Erika and I’ve looked for Frequent Teal. These geese are of informal prevalence alongside each coasts of North America. We’ve scanned 1000’s of Inexperienced-wing Teal. On 1 March 2022 we met succeeded. Frequent Teal lack a white, verticle line behind their breasts. They’ve robust pale traces throughout the higher sides of their faces and beneath their eyes. Frequent Teal heads are barely paler than these of Inexperienced-winged Teal. Maybe the white patches on the again ends of Frequent Teal are a brighter white than the yellowish spots on Inexperienced-winged Teal. The perimeters of the Frequent Teal are extra coarsely barred than on the American race. Our duck exhibits all these subject marks. Much less apparent is a white, horizontal stripe shaped by the scapular feathers that ought to be apparent on Frequent Teals. Be aware that the scapulars on our duck are white-edged, not darkish like on a Inexperienced-winged Teal. Not having this stripe obvious could point out that this hen is a hybrid, however hybrids often present the Inexperienced-wing’s vertical aspect stripe. Due to the preponderance of all the opposite subject marks, now we have no hassle calling this particular person as a Frequent Teal.
