This species replaces the Cinnamon Teal throughout much of eastern and northern North America, especially in the Prairie Pothole region. However, here in the far west it remains scarce although possibly increasing.
The Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal are very closely related. In fact mtDNA is virtually identical between Blue-winged and South American Cinnamon Teal (subspecies A. c. septentrionalium). Interestingly septentrionalium has black spots on the sides and breast similar to the pattern of Blue-winged Teal suggesting a closer relationship between it and Blue-winged than there is between Blue-winged and North American Cinnamon Teal.
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