Eurasian Green-winged Teal

Eurasian Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca crecca), Tempe Lake, Maricopa County

This Eurasian Green-winged Teal was found by Myron Scott on 9 January 2008 at the east end of Tempe Town Lake. It was photographed by Pierre Deviche on 10 January 2009

If confirmed, this would be the second documented record of this form in Arizona. The first was at Gilbert Water Ranch on 2 March 2008. See here and here.

Currently the ABA and AOU checklist committees consider Eurasion Green-winged Teal and American Green-winged Teal to be subspecies. However, other authorities consider them to be full species. See the links above for more details.

This bird has the bold horizontal white scapular stripe that is the signature field mark of this form. It is is clearly visible when the bird is flapping. The white vertical bar of the American Green-winged Teal is absent on both sides. Hybrids between the two forms usually have faint vertical stripes. This bird also has a stronger pale bar in front of the black bar on the vent than is typical for American. Two other features that were apparent on the Gilbert bird, however are not as apparent on this one. Eurasian Green-winged Teal usually has bolder white facial stripes, which were especially prominent on last year's Gilbert bird. This bird does not seen to have that feature, but it is unknown how much variation there is in this. Web pictures of Common Teal in Europe show birds that look virtually identical to this one. Also, the Gilbert bird has noticeably courser vermiculations on the side. Higher resolution pictures would be required to determine if this bird has that feature.

10 January 2009, photo by Pierre Deviche