Subject: Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera

Location: Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado

Stock Number: 04-1514

Comments: The Latin species name of this duck means "blue wing," and to confuse matters there is a related duck with the common name of Blue-winged teal. In both cases the blue is a small patch of pale color seen on the wing's leading edge as the bird flies. If you have good eyes you may be able to spot a speck of blue on the bird shown above.

In my Eastern haunts I never saw this beautiful duck, but on a trip to Port Aransas, Texas, I saw my first one. He was hanging around with another relative, the Green-winged teal. On a trip to Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, I photographed this guy, who was dabbling in the shallows. Note the species’ oversize bill.