Cinnamon Teal - Ross Feldner The male of this dabbling duck species lives up to its name with rich cinnamon coloring. It also displays an eye-catching blue wing patch. The female has more subdued brown markings. The Cinnamon Teal is found in central and western America near freshwater marshes, ponds, flooded fields and small streams. Like Killdeer and other birds if danger threatens the female will put on the broken-wing act to distract the predator. Unlike most duck species, males are sometimes seen accompanying the female and their brood and do not abandon their mate until right before the eggs hatch. The female Cinnamon Teal accesses her well-hidden nest through tunnels made beneath thick, dead vegetation. Like most dabbling ducks, Cinnamon Teals follow each other while foraging taking advantage of the roiling action of the bird in front of them stirring up food. The diet is mostly seeds and plants such as grasses, weeds and sedges. They also eat insects, snails and small crustaceans. During breeding season the female Cinnamon Teal will swim in front of a male she is interested in attracting. The males in response preen, dip their head and take short flights to attract a female. | |
