Silver Teal vs Blue-winged Teal

In short

The Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor) and Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) are both small dabbling ducks, but they can be distinguished by their bill color and wing patterns. Silver Teal has a distinctive blue-gray bill and a white face with a black cap, while Blue-winged Teal features a blue wing patch and a white crescent on the face of males.

Identification tips

• Look for the blue-gray bill and white face with a black cap on Silver Teal.
• Identify Blue-winged Teal by the blue wing patch and white facial crescent on males.
• Consider geographic location: Silver Teal is more likely in South America, while Blue-winged Teal is common in North America during breeding season.

Size

Both species are similar in size, being small ducks within the same genus.

Plumage

Silver Teal exhibits a blue-gray bill and a white face with a black cap, while Blue-winged Teal males have a white facial crescent and a blue wing patch. Females of both species are more cryptically colored but maintain these distinctive bill and wing features.

Behaviour

Both species are dabbling ducks, often seen feeding in shallow waters. They display similar feeding behaviors but may differ in migratory patterns.

Habitat

Silver Teal is typically found in South American wetlands, while Blue-winged Teal breeds in North America and migrates to Central and South America for winter.

Voice

Vocalizations are not the most reliable for field identification as both species have typical dabbling duck calls.