Blog Entry: 7th Tuesday-- Block Num. 2

We're on a roll here, folks, and this train is not slowing down.  In my previous post, I examined Rails and Gallinules, the waterfowl that make up "block" 1 of waterbird hunting in Louisiana.  Now I'm moving onto my personal favorite, "block" 2: Teal.  The first duck I harvested in Louisiana was a Teal bird.  This species is a favorite of duck hunters throughout the bayou because of its size, elusiveness and difficulty to hunt.  I can say, first hand, these birds come in hard and fast, but with a group of experienced callers, coupled with a little bit of luck, a Teal hunt can be one of the most thrilling and heart-pounding hunting experiences.  So without further adieu, I give you the Teal bird.

There are three sub-species of Teal legally available for harvest in Louisiana, September 14th through 29th: Blue-winged, Green-winged and Cinnamon.

For this post I will be pulling information from the Ducks Unlimited website.  DU is arguably the most respected and largest wetland conservation group in North America.  With thousands of members, DU strives to educate hunters and landowners on responsible harvest practice and wetland conservation in conjunction with state and federal law.  Their work is uncontested.

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id

Teal

Blue-Winged:  One of the earliest birds to arrive during duck season, the Blue-Winged Teal leaves its home in the Prairie Pothole Region (Mid-West U.S. to Southern Canada) and migrates south.  These birds nest in a variety of fresh and brackish water estuaries along the Gulf Coast and down to Central America.

- Slate gray head and neck
- Black-edged white crescent in front of eyes
- Blackish crown
- Tan breast and sides with dark brown speckles
- White spot on side of rump
- Blue-gray wing with a green underside




Green-Winged: Widely considered one of the most extensive wintering ranged birds hunted, the Green-Winged Teal has been spotted as far north as Alaska and as far south as northern South America.  This bird is most commonly found in the Louisiana-Mississippi flyway, making its habitat in the numerous lowland, freshwater marshes and rice fields.

- Smallest North American duck
- Chestnut head with a green to purple patch extending from the rear of the eye to the nape of the neck
- Pinkish-brown chest with brown speckles
- Gray sides, back and flanks
- Dark slate bill



Cinnamon: This species of Teal spends almost the entirety of its winter months in Mexico and Central America. However, its flight path from the Mid-West U.S. brings it into the freshwater marshes of the Delta. These birds often attach themselves to flocks of Blue-Winged Teal as they have mutual breeding grounds.


                                                                                   - Cinnamon-red head, neck, breast and belly
- Dull brown back, rump, uppertail coverts and tail
- Distinct red eye
- Black bill
- Yellow legs and feet






This concludes my research on the two biggest "blocks" of duck hunting throughout the early fall weeks in Louisiana.  Until next time.

Good Hunting,
Gersh