Cinnamon Teal
The Cinnamon Teal is native to both North and South America. There are four subspecies of cinnamon teal all which reside in South America.
Male Cinnamon teal will acquire their bright cinnamon color and powder blue shoulder patches their first fall. The females look very similar to a bluewing teal female, the cinnamon being slightly darker in color. Crosses between blue-wing and cinnamon have been documented, hybrid females may be nearly impossible to distinguish from pure birds, and these two species should be kept separate.
This species is fairly easy to breed and maintain in a captive setting. The are not aggressive and are suitable for a mixed collection. Cinnamon teal are first year fertile and eggs are often laid their first spring.
Breeding season is in spring, and nest are laid on the ground under natural cover or in a nesting box. Clutches consist of 8-12 eggs and are incubated for about 25 days. As with most dabbing ducks the ducklings are easy to raise.
