Green-winged teal
Anas carolinensis · Our smallest dabbler. Fast, twisting flocks and a green wing patch.
- Length
- 12–15 in
- Weight
- 0.5–1.0 lb
- Wingspan
- 20–23 in
- Group
- Dabbling duck
Typical adult size. Drakes run larger than hens.
How to identify a green-winged teal
Drake
Chestnut head with a green band behind the eye, gray body, a vertical white bar on the side of the chest, and a creamy patch under the tail.
Hen
Small and brown with a dark eye line and a small dark bill. Often shows a creamy streak under the tail.
In flight
Tiny, fast and twisting, often in tight flocks. Green speculum with a buff front edge; no pale blue on the forewing.
Look-alikes
- Blue-winged teal: Blue-wings show a big pale-blue forewing patch in flight. Hens have a bigger bill and a broken eye ring.
- Northern shoveler: Shovelers are much larger, with a huge spoon-shaped bill.
Green-winged teal gallery
Green-winged teal limits in six Mid-South states
| State | Green-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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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.
When and where on public land
Timing
Some arrive with blue-wings in September; most come with November and December cold fronts. Common all season and often in the bag on the late segments.
Habitat
Mudflats, shallow moist-soil units and flooded fields with very shallow water. Edges of big refuges more than deep timber.
More dabbling ducks
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