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Photo by Lynn Chamberlain
Photo Copyright Lynn Chamberlain
Cinnamon Teal
Spatula cyanoptera
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S4S5B,S3N
External links
General information
The cinnamon teal, Anas cyanoptera, occurs in two widely disjunct populations, one in North America, the other in South America. The North American population breeds in southwestern Canada, the western United States, and Mexico, and winters in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The South American population is widespread and may move from high-elevation breeding sites to middle elevations in other seasons. In Utah, this species is common in summer throughout the state and rare in winter in the southern part of the state. The habitat of this duck is seasonal and semipermanent wetlands (often highly alkaline), marshes, reservoirs, sluggish streams, ditches, and stock ponds. This species is omnivorous, eating seeds and aquatic vegetation, aquatic and semiterrestrial insects, and snails.
The nest is a hollow on the ground, usually well concealed by vegetation. Four to sixteen eggs are incubated by the female parent alone for 21 to 25 days. The precocial young leave the nest within 24 hours, following their mother to the nearest water. The young become independent after 49 days.
This species is the victim of brood parasitism by other ducks - in Utah commonly including the redhead and the ruddy duck, and rarely the northern shoveler - and occasionally even other water birds, such as the American coot. The cinnamon teal itself is a brood parasite of other ducks.
Species range
BREEDING: in North America from southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, southwestern Saskatchewan, eastern Montana, central North Dakota, southwestern South Dakota, western Nebraska, and central Kansas south to northern Baja California, Jalisco, Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, and central Texas. NON-BREEDING: central California, southern Nevada, central Utah, southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and central Texas south regularly to southern Mexico, rarely or casually to Colombia, northern Venezuela, and northern Ecuador. In the U.S., the primary wintering areas are in Texas, and California (Root 1988). RESIDENT: in South America in Colombia (eastern Andes, and Cauca and Magdalena valleys), and from central Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil south to Straits of Magellan (but see GMIGRCOM). Casual in Hawaii, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and in many areas of continental U.S. (AOU 1983).
Migration
Northern populations migratory; migrate northward in March- April, southward early in northern fall. Southernmost mainland populations in South America migrate northward for austral winter, as far as Pacific coast of Peru and central Brazil (Madge and Burn 1988).
Habitat
Shallow lake margins, reed beds, ponds, lagoons, sluggish streams and marshes, primarily in freshwater but found in winter occasionally in marine situations (Tropical to Temperate zones) (AOU 1983). Builds nest on ground near edge of lake, pool, or swamp. Nest is usually well-concealed in vegetation.
Food habits
Feeds on aquatic plants in shallow water areas; especially on rush seeds, pondweed seeds and leaves, and salt grass seeds. Also eats small amounts of animal food, especially insects and mollusks (Bellrose 1976; Gammonley, 1995, Wilson Bulletin 107:64-72).
Ecology
Before breeding season usually seen in single pairs; in fall seen in small family groups.
Reproductive characteristics
Female incubates 9-12, sometimes 6-14, eggs for 21-25 days. Nestlings are precocial and downy. Young are capable of flight in about 7 weeks (Terres 1980).
References
- Gammonley, J. H. 1996. Cinnamon teal. Birds of North America 209: 1–19.
- Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The birder’s handbook[:] a field guide to the natural history of North American birds. Simon & Schuster, New York. xxx + 785 pp.
