The Cinnamon Teal is a small dabbling duck found primarily in western North America. Its breeding habitat is small wetlands in the western United States, Canada, and northern Mexico. It winters in coastal estuaries and freshwater wetlands farther south in the Americas. The Cinnamon Teal is found in the following U.S. states during breeding and migration:
Breeding Range
The Cinnamon Teal breeds in the following states:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- Wyoming
These states provide ideal wetland habitat for breeding, such as small ponds, marshes, and flooded fields. The Cinnamon Teal nests on the ground near water, concealed by vegetation. It lays 5-15 eggs. After hatching, the ducklings are precocial and can feed themselves, but stay close to the mother for protection.
Migration Range
During migration, the Cinnamon Teal can be found in many additional states beyond its core breeding range. Migration occurs in spring as the birds move north to the breeding grounds, and in fall as they return south to wintering areas. States where the Cinnamon Teal can be found during migration include:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
These include states along the migratory flyways between the breeding and wintering grounds. The Central and Mississippi flyways are especially important migration routes for the Cinnamon Teal through the Great Plains and Midwest regions.
Wintering Range
During the winter, the Cinnamon Teal’s range expands farther south. Important wintering states include:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- Tamaulipas
- Texas
- Veracruz
Further south, the Cinnamon Teal winters in Mexico and Central America. Key winter habitat includes coastal marshes, lakes, ponds, flooded agricultural fields, and estuaries. These environments provide abundant food resources and protection from predators.
Vagrancy
Outside of its normal range, the Cinnamon Teal sometimes occurs as a vagrant in additional eastern states. Vagrant records exist for:
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
These records likely represent lost migrating birds that have wandered far outside their normal range and migration route.
Summary of Occurrence
In summary, the Cinnamon Teal primarily occurs in the following states and regions:
- Breeding: Western states from Alaska to Texas
- Migration: Throughout western and central North America
- Wintering: Southern US, Mexico, and Central America
- Vagrancy: Rare along the East Coast
The core of the Cinnamon Teal’s range centers on the interior western states of the US and Canada. Its range expands during migration and into its wintering grounds, but maintains a western distribution. Vagrant records exist outside of its normal range, but are rare.
Population and Conservation Status
The Cinnamon Teal has an estimated global population of 640,000 individuals. In North America, its population is estimated at 570,000 birds. Overall, the Cinnamon Teal has a conservation status of Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List. Its numbers are stable and even increasing in some regions. Major threats include habitat loss and degradation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change effects on wetland habitats. Ongoing conservation efforts across its range aim to protect key breeding and migratory habitats to ensure the long-term health of Cinnamon Teal populations.
Interesting Facts
Here are a few interesting facts about the Cinnamon Teal:
- The male has gorgeous reddish-cinnamon colored plumage, while the female is mottled brown.
- It is the most common teal species in the interior western US.
- Its Spanish name is Sarcela Canela.
- It feeds mainly on aquatic invertebrates and seeds.
- Nesting occurs from April to July depending on latitude.
- They sometimes interbreed with Blue-winged Teal where their ranges overlap.
- They can dive to depths of up to 20 feet when feeding!
- Pairs perform elaborate courtship displays and vocalizations.
- Ducklings feed on aquatic insects and other invertebrates.
- Migration occurs at night in large swirling flocks.
In summary, the Cinnamon Teal is a handsome little duck with some fascinating behaviors and adaptations. Although abundant, habitat conservation efforts are still needed to protect this species across its range within the United States and beyond.
Conclusion
The Cinnamon Teal has a widespread distribution across western and central North America. Its core breeding range centers on the interior western states from Alaska to Texas. During migration, it expands across much of the western half of the U.S. and into the Great Plains and Midwest. Wintering grounds stretch from the southern U.S. into Mexico and Central America. Though normally found in the west, vagrant records occur in eastern states as well. Ongoing conservation efforts for wetland habitats are important for ensuring healthy Cinnamon Teal populations into the future.
