This striking duck breeds primarily in freshwater ponds and wetlands in Western North America. It is closely related to the more widespread Blue-winged Teal and the females of the two are tricky to distinguish when bright males, such as this individual are not around. In the Bay Area, we see these birds primarily as migrants, especially in the Spring, but they also winter locally.
Birds breeding in North America and Mexico are the race, A. c.septentrionalium. There are four additional races confined to South
America, most of which have more black spotting on the breast.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA |hand-held (no adapter)