Green-winged Teal/Praslacha Ghlasmeiteach (Anas carolinensis)
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis) or American teal is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered conspecific with the Eurasian teal (A. crecca) for some time, but the two have since been split into separate species. This is once again under debate and the two species may be joined togetehr again.
This dabbling duck is strongly migratory and winters far south of its breeding range. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks. In flight, the fast, twisting flocks resemble waders. (wikipedia)
Very similar to Common Teal and care is needed to separate the two species. Adult male Green-winged Teal can be identified by the white vertical stripe on the flank, a feature never shown by Common Teal. Adult male Green-winged Teal also lack the obvious horizontal white stripe, while the yellow markings on the head are much reduced. Adult females and juveniles are indistinguishable from Common Teal. (BirdWatch Ireland)
There are several records a year in Ireland. This male, flanked either side by his distant Eurasian Teal cousins, was found in Broadmeadows in the Swords Estuary, Co. Dublin.
Green-winged Teal/Praslacha Ghlasmeiteach (Anas carolinensis)
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis) or American teal is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered conspecific with the Eurasian teal (A. crecca) for some time, but the two have since been split into separate species. This is once again under debate and the two species may be joined togetehr again.
This dabbling duck is strongly migratory and winters far south of its breeding range. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks. In flight, the fast, twisting flocks resemble waders. (wikipedia)
Very similar to Common Teal and care is needed to separate the two species. Adult male Green-winged Teal can be identified by the white vertical stripe on the flank, a feature never shown by Common Teal. Adult male Green-winged Teal also lack the obvious horizontal white stripe, while the yellow markings on the head are much reduced. Adult females and juveniles are indistinguishable from Common Teal. (BirdWatch Ireland)
There are several records a year in Ireland. This male, flanked either side by his distant Eurasian Teal cousins, was found in Broadmeadows in the Swords Estuary, Co. Dublin.