Two New Friends

We've had some new friends visiting us at the pond, a few green-winged teals (Anas carolinensis) and a handful of northern shovelers (Anas Clypeata). Both of these birds I haven't seen in quite a long time, so it's very exciting for me to see them. The northern shoveler is a very distinctive dabbling duck with it's long, spoon-shaped bill, which the bird is named after. The males have a distinctive green head, a white chest and brownish-rusty colored sides. The female shoveler is light brown similar to a female mallard, but has the elongated spoon-shaped bill like the males.

Male Northern Shoveler from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anas_clypeata_2.jpg

The green-winged teal is the smallest of the North American dabbling ducks. The males have a grayish body with a white-yellowish rump and a white horizontal scapular stripe. The head of the male is brownish with a green eye patch. The female green-winged teal also looks similar to female mallards, but tends to be smaller.

Male and female green-winged teal from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anas_carolinensis_FWS.jpg

Resources:

Northern Shoveler, (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2009 from All About Birds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Shoveler/id

Green-winged Teal, (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2009 from All About Birds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green-winged_Teal/id