Dabbling duck · Duck ID

Blue-winged teal

Spatula discors · The September teal. Pale blue forewing and a white facial crescent on drakes.

Drake. Photo: Félix Uribe from Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Length: 14–16 in
Weight: 0.6–1.2 lb
Wingspan: 22–24 in
Group: Dabbling duck

Typical adult size. Drakes run larger than hens.

Field marks

How to identify a blue-winged teal

Drake

Blue-gray head with a bold white crescent in front of the eye, spotted tan body and a white patch near the tail. Many are still in drab plumage in September.

Hen

Mottled brown with a broken white eye ring, a pale spot at the base of the bill and a fairly large dark bill.

In flight

Small and quick with a large chalky-blue patch on the front of the wing and a green speculum.

Look-alikes

Green-winged teal: No blue on the forewing; smaller bill. Drakes have a chestnut-and-green head.
Northern shoveler: Same blue forewing, but shovelers are bigger with a huge spoon bill.

Photos

Blue-winged teal gallery

Blue-winged teal: Hen — **Hen**ADJ82 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Blue-winged teal: In flight — **In flight**Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Hear it

Blue-winged teal call

Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · original recording

2026-27 bag limits

Blue-winged teal limits in six Mid-South states

State	Blue-winged teal daily limit	Possession	Total daily ducks	Source
MississippiNov 27–29; Dec 4–6; Dec 9, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit Sept 19–27, 2026 teal season: 6 teal a day, 18 in possession (closed now).	3 times the daily limit Not confirmed Opening-day possession wording in the Digest (check the official source)	6 ducks a day	MDWFP Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits · checked Oct 22, 2026 Mississippi rules
TennesseeNov 28–29; Dec 5, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit Sept 12–16, 2026 wood duck and teal season: 6 a day, no more than 2 wood ducks (closed now).	3 times the daily limit, except 1 times on opening day and 2 times on the second day	6 ducks a day	TWRA Waterfowl and Migratory Birds · checked Oct 22, 2026 Tennessee rules
ArkansasNov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit Sept 19–27, 2026 early teal season: 6 a day (blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon combined), 18 in possession (closed now).	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	AGFC Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Arkansas rules
LouisianaEast Zone Nov 21–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 31; West Zone Nov 14–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 24	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit Sept 19–27, 2026 teal season: 6 a day, 18 in possession (closed now).	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	LDWF Seasons and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Louisiana rules
MissouriNorth Oct 31–Dec 29; Middle Nov 7–Dec 13 and Dec 19–Jan 10; South Nov 26–29 and Dec 7–Jan 31	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit Sept 12–20, 2026 teal season: 6 teal a day, 18 in possession (closed now).	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest · checked Oct 22, 2026 Missouri rules
KentuckyNov 26–29; Dec 7, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit Sept 19–23, 2026 teal and wood duck season: 6 a day, no more than 2 wood ducks (closed now).	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	KDFWR 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide · checked Oct 22, 2026 Kentucky rules

Regular-season limits from each state’s official 2026-27 regulations. Possession limits count birds at home too. Federal rules apply on top of state rules, and some WMAs and refuges set stricter limits. Louisiana and Missouri set duck seasons by zone; the dates shown are for every zone.

Mid-South

When and where on public land

Timing

The earliest migrant. Peaks in September during the teal seasons and most push on to the Gulf and Latin America by November; a few stay in mild winters.