Northern Cinnamon Teal

Cinnamon Teal was taking off from the water in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park.

A pair of Cinnamon Teals. Drake, or the male, is on the right, and the female is approaching him from the left.

The Cinnamon Teal, Whistling Ducks, and Ruddy Ducks are the only ducks that breed in North and South America. Yes, teals are ducks.

Their range extends from the western third of the USA through Mexico to the tip of South America.

Cinnamon Teal migrates early in the fall, so only a small number is lost during the northern waterfowl hunting season. Many food critics consider cinnamon teal one of the best-tasting ducks.

The Cinnamon Teal are tiny and swift flyers.

Although their numbers are declining due to habitat loss, wetland destruction, and pollution, they are not considered endangered.

Cinnamon Teals are dabbers. In other words, they sit on the water's surface, dunk their heads so their tails are up, and then grab vegetation standing on their heads.

To learn more about ducks, check out this page.

Cinnamon Teals will often swim in packs to stir up food for the group. But it isn't uncommon to see them individually or in pairs.

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