Early Teal

Back to Early Teal

How do you Identify Teal?
Teal are small ducks, with rapid, erratic flight. They usually fly in tight, compact flights. Hunters can confuse wood ducks, shovelers, gadwall, and pintails with teal, but wood ducks have an unusual flight appearance and generally do not fly in flocks as large as teal. Gadwall and pintail are larger than teal and do not fly as rapidly and erratically. Shovelers are slightly larger than teal and their larger bill is a good identifying characteristic. Teal hens have a quick, raspy call that can also be used to separate them from other ducks while males have a one-note whistle or peep.