English and Scientific names:

Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)

Number of individuals: 

1 adult male in breeding plumage

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Cameron

Specific Locality:

Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
(seen from Wetland Walkway (nature trail), on northeast side of trail in large pond to east of observation tower)

Date(s) when observed:

5 March 2009

Time(s) of day when observed:  

between approx. 3-4 pm

Reporting observer and address:

Gay Gomez

Lake Charles, LA 

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

Robin Doughty

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)

 

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Cinnamon teal male was easy to spot; the afternoon sun was shining directly on the bird, and the weather was clear.

Optical equipment: 

Leica Ultravid, 10 power, excellent condition;

Swavorski (not sure of model), 10 power, excellent condition.

Distance to bird(s): 

approx. 50 to 80 meters

Duration of observation:

We watched the Cinnamon Teal initially for about 15 minutes then returned about 30 minutes later to re-locate it (it had moved closer to the trail); we watched it for about another 10 minutes this second time.

Habitat: 

Shallow pond in freshwater/intermediate marsh impoundment, though water may have still been somewhat brackish (area was recovering from storm surge of Hurricane Ike 6 months earlier).

Behavior of bird: 

The cinnamon teal male was on the water, resting most of the time we observed it but did dip its head to feed on a few occasions.  It was part of a flock of dabbling ducks (about 200) but fortunately was near the western edge of that flock and so was relatively near and easy to spot from the trail.

Description:

From our distance, the primary characteristic we observed that allowed us to identify the bird was its plumage.  The distinctive dark cinnamon/reddish brown color was clearly different and brighter than the more drab brown plumage of nearby blue-winged teal.  The bird was uniform in color and did not have the blue-winged or green-winged teal drakes' distinctive facial markings.  Also, the bird was approximately blue-winged-teal size, not smaller like a green-winged teal.

Voice:

 

Similar species:

See above comments regarding plumage and size.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

 

Previous experience with this species: 

We’ve seen cinnamon teal frequently in central and south Texas.

Identification aids:

National Geographic Guide to North American Birds and Sibley (Audubon) Guide were available

This description is written from: 

Notes made same day of the observation and from memory

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

Yes

Date and time: 

31 August 2009