The Cinnamon Teal is a small dabbling duck known for its rich cinnamon-red plumage. This striking bird has a complex and variable coloration that has long fascinated birders and ornithologists alike. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the Cinnamon Teal’s vibrant color palette and examine how its plumage varies by sex, season, and age.
Quick Facts on the Cinnamon Teal’s Coloration
Here are some key facts about the Cinnamon Teal’s plumage:
- Males have rich, cinnamon-red bodies, contrasted with a blue-grey head, black bill, and vivid red eyes.
- Females are mottled brown overall, with a pale blue-grey bill and brown eyes.
- Breeding males are the most colorful, with deeper red hues. Non-breeding males are paler.
- Juveniles resemble adult females but are duller in color.
- There are no major geographic variations in color across the Cinnamon Teal’s range.
Detailed Look at Male Cinnamon Teal Plumage
The breeding male Cinnamon Teal is unmistakable in its vibrant red and blue color scheme. From bill to belly, a spectrum of rich cinnamon-red hues covers the body. This coloration begins with a burnt orange-red head and neck. The breast transitions into a bright reddish-copper, while the back and sides are a richer cinnamon-chestnut.
In contrast to the warm red body, the crown and nape are colored a cool blue-grey. The eyes are a striking blood-red. The bill is blackish-grey with a pale grey central band along the upper mandible. The legs and feet are yellowish to olive-grey.
When not breeding, male Cinnamon Teals molt into an eclipse plumage. While still sporting red eyes, their body plumage fades to a pale orange-cinnamon. The blue-grey crown remains but becomes diffused by scattered brown feathers.
Variation in Male Cinnamon Teal Coloration
While breeding male Cinnamon Teals share the same basic color pattern, there can be subtle variations in hue across individuals. The red plumage may appear deeper coppery-chestnut in some males, while others exhibit a brighter reddish-cinnamon. The intensity of coloration can also vary within an individual when transitioning between breeding and non-breeding plumages.
Female Cinnamon Teal Coloration
In contrast to the flamboyant males, female Cinnamon Teals are modestly colored in mottled brown plumages. The head, neck, breast and sides are covered in dense dark brown spotting and vertical bars on a tan background. The crown and eye stripe are distinctly paler. The speculum or wing patch is iridescent blue framed in black and white bars.
The bill of the female is blue-grey with a darker culmen or upper ridge. The legs and feet are yellowish grey. The eyes are a rich chocolate brown. Females undergo a complete molt into eclipse plumage after breeding but show little change in coloration.
Similarity to Female Blue-winged Teal
Female Cinnamon Teals are very similar in appearance to female Blue-winged Teal. Structural differences in the bill and silhouette can help distinguish the two species. But the most reliable difference is the color of the upper bill mandible: blue-grey in female Cinnamon Teals, and black in female Blue-winged Teal.
Juvenile Cinnamon Teal Coloration
Hatchling Cinnamon Teals resemble the tan and brown-mottled females but with some key differences. The overall color is darker sooty-brown rather than tan. The legs are olive-grey. The speculum is poorly defined with little iridescent color.
Within weeks, the juveniles start to molt into a distinct plumage. The legs fade to yellowish. Fine streaking appears on the neck and breast. The iridescence in the speculum strengthens. By one year of age, the juveniles closely resemble adult females but in a duller and browner overall palette.
Why Such Striking Differences in Coloration?
The Cinnamon Teal exhibits some of the most extreme sexual dimorphism in plumage coloration of all waterfowl species. Why do the sexes differ so sharply?
For male ducks, bright colorful plumages are thought to have evolved through sexual selection. Females preferentially choose more ornately colored males as mates. The most vivid males likely have “good genes” that will benefit the offspring. This selective pressure over time results in elaborate male plumages.
In contrast, natural selection has shaped the mottled brown female coloration. Camouflage allows females to blend into surroundings while incubating eggs and raising young. Dark downy ducklings are similarly concealed in vegetation.
The seasonal shifts between breeding and non-breeding male plumages may maximize both sexual display and camouflage at different life stages.
Comparison of Cinnamon Teal Colors by Sex and Season
| Plumage Type | Male Color Description | Female Color Description |
|---|---|---|
| Breeding male | Vibrant cinnamon-red body with blue-grey crown, black bill, and red eyes | Mottled brown overall with pale blue-grey bill and brown eyes |
| Non-breeding male | Paler orange-cinnamon body with faded grey crown and some brown feathers | Same mottled brown as breeding female |
| Juvenile | Resembles adult female | Dark sooty brown overall with yellowish legs |
Geographic Variation in Cinnamon Teal Coloration
The Cinnamon Teal has an extensive range across western and central North America, Mexico, and South America. Within this broad distribution, there is remarkably little geographic variation in plumage colors and patterns.
All population groups share the same sexually dimorphic coloration no matter their breeding locale. Compared to other widespread duck species like the Mallard and Northern Pintail, the Cinnamon Teal is relatively uniform across its entire range.
There are no recognized subspecies that differ substantially in coloration. The only minor variation is that Andean birds of South America may average slightly paler, reduced cinnamon hues. But in general, Cinnamon Teals appear consistent in colors across populations.
Why Such Little Geographic Variation?
What factors account for the Cinnamon Teal’s relative lack of geographic plumage variation?
- A relatively short timeframe since the species colonized its range may be insufficient for localized color patterns to evolve.
- Gene flow across populations inhibits divergence.
- Strong selection pressure maintains vivid breeding male colors across all populations.
- Natural selection acts against deviations from camouflage-colored females.
In contrast, species like the Mallard and Northern Pintail with more pronounced geographic variation have longer evolutionary histories and more isolated populations.
Changes in Cinnamon Teal Coloration Over Time
There is no evidence that Cinnamon Teal coloration has changed significantly over time. Studies of museum specimens over the past century show consistent plumage colors in both males and females.
Sexual selection theory predicts male ducks may become even more ornately colored over evolutionary time. But there are also constraints on elaborating male plumage.
At the same time, relaxed natural selection could permit female ducks to become more colorful. However, female crypsis offers strong advantages for nesting success. Overall, the Cinnamon Teal’s striking sexually dimorphic color palette appears resilient over time.
Conclusion
With its vibrant cinnamon-red body, cool blue-grey crown, and vivid red eyes, the breeding male Cinnamon Teal is one of the most beautifully colored of all ducks. In contrast, females exhibit cryptic mottled brown plumages shaped by natural selection.
This sexual dimorphism maximizes mating advantages for males and camouflage benefits for females. Cinnamon Teal colors also change with seasons and age. Yet despite this complexity, the species shows remarkable consistency in plumage across its range and over time.
The Cinnamon Teal’s colorful dichotomy between elaborate males and camouflaged females provides a living example of how natural and sexual selection shape the diversity of avian life.
