Cinnamon Teal
Spatula cyanoptera
The Cinnamon Teal lives year-round (i.e. is resident) throughout western California, but breeds in most of the western USA. These birds are uncommon breeders east of the Rocky Mountains. Most spend winters in Mexico or in the USA close to the border. Some remain in the western half of California year-round. There is also a breeding population in western South America extending south through the Pantanal to Tierra del Fuego.
Most ducks show a noticeable contrasting plumage between males and females, called sexual dimorphism, but few are so dramatically different as the Cinnamon Teals. When autumn comes and breeding season has passed, the males shed their richly colored plumage and take on a subdued coloring, more closely resembling the females and their immature offspring.
Taxonomists recognise five subspecies of Cinnamon Teal:
- A. c. septentrionalium breeds from southern British Columbia and Alberta south through the western USA to northern Mexico. They spend winters from the southwestern USA south through Central America to northern South America.
- A. c. tropica lives in the lowlands of Colombia (South America).
- A. c. borreroi lives on the eastern slopes of the Colombian Andes (South America).
- A. c. orinomus lives in the Andes from central Peru south to northern Chile (South America).
- A. c. cyanoptera lives in the lowlands of southwestern South America from Peru through Chile, Argentina, and on the Falkland Islands.
I’ve been lucky enough to find these ducks during my expeditions throughout the western USA, including California, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
38 Photos
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Fremont River at the low end of Bicknell Bottoms south of Bicknell, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:08 11:12 |
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Location:
Bicknell Bottoms |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X0021-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Fremont River at the low end of Bicknell Bottoms south of Bicknell, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:08 11:14 |
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Location:
Bicknell Bottoms |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X0028-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Pair at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 15:06 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X1218-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 17 miles west of Brigham City Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:12 8:37 |
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Location:
Bear River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X1698-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:26 18:38 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X5077-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Location is the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, south of Klamath Falls Oregon in California 2016-05-05. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:05 14:14 |
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Location:
Lower Klamath NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D721031-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Cibola NWR, South of Blyth, CA. In Arizona near the Colorado River. |
Date Taken: 2006:02:17 15:16 |
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Location:
Goose Loop |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD1761CinnamonTeal |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Malheur NWR, Central Oregon 2005-05-20. |
Date Taken: 2005:05:20 9:09 |
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Location:
Diamond Lane |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD2132CinnamonTeal |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Beeler Creek Ponds. Poway, California. San Diego County 2008-02-01. |
Date Taken: 2008:02:01 16:02 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD3395CinnamonTeal |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 16:22 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD5989.CinnamonTeal |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Malheur NWR, Central Oregon 2005-05-20. |
Date Taken: 2005:05:20 9:09 |
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Location:
Diamond Lane |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD2127CinnamonTeal |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Malheur NWR, Central Oregon 2005-05-20. |
Date Taken: 2005:05:20 9:09 |
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Location:
Diamond Lane |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD2133CinnamonTeal |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson Nevada is comprised of nine ponds owned by the city's Waste Water Treatment Facility, but managed by nature lovers. It is the premiere birding location in southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:13 7:13 |
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Location:
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/5000 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_D5X2672-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson Nevada is comprised of nine ponds owned by the city's Waste Water Treatment Facility, but managed by nature lovers. It is the premiere birding location in southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:13 7:14 |
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Location:
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_D5X2690-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: At the marsh in Belen New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:16 17:09 |
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Location:
Belen Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X5607-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Santee Lakes in Santee, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:05 9:49 |
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Location:
Santee Lakes |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X2151-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: At the marsh in Belen New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:16 17:08 |
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Location:
Belen Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X5598-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Lee Metcalf NWR in the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, Montana. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:26 15:37 |
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Location:
Lee Metcalf NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X4915-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Hen at the Visitor Center on the north edge of Jackson, Wyoming. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:16 10:53 |
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Location:
Jackson Visitor Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X2673-CinnamonTeal |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Most of the waterfowl I met here were rather shy, and stayed beyond ideal shooting range. A few miles east of Roswell, New Mexico, along the Pecos River, is Bitter Lake NWR. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:11 8:26 |
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Location:
Bitter Lake NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_D505767-BitterLake-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:09 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507077-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:09 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507057-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Malheur NWR has been one of my favorite Oregon birding destinations since I found my way there in December 2003. Despite the lowest water levels I’ve seen in Marshall Pond at the refuge’s visitor center, There were still some good meetings with birds such as this Cinnamon Teal. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:25 9:37 |
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Location:
Malheur NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8504831-MalheurNWR |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: My get-a-way drive from Yellowstone National Park carried me along the Yellowstone River. When I spotted a sizable waterfowl raft, I had to stop and visit them for a while. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:15 10:25 |
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Location:
Yellowstone River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/4000 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8501000-YellowstoneRiver |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:33 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507145-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: My get-a-way drive from Yellowstone National Park carried me along the Yellowstone River. When I spotted a sizable waterfowl raft, I had to stop and visit them for a while. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:15 10:21 |
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Location:
Yellowstone River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/4000 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8500936-YellowstoneRiver |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:33 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507170-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 11:36 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_D5X8553-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:09 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507050-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
|
Description: Malheur NWR has been one of my favorite Oregon birding destinations since I found my way there in December 2003. Despite the lowest water levels I’ve seen in Marshall Pond at the refuge’s visitor center, There were still some good meetings with birds such as this Cinnamon Teal. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:25 9:52 |
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Location:
Malheur NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8504912-MalheurNWR |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
|
Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:09 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507072-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: I spent only a little more than an hour for my first visit to the Sweetwater Wetlands a little west of Tucson. I found it lovely, and I expect to visit it again, and again. |
Date Taken: 2023:03:18 16:22 |
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Location:
Sweetwater Wetlands Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_ZX92203_SweetwaterWetlands-Tucson-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: I spent only a little more than an hour for my first visit to the Sweetwater Wetlands a little west of Tucson. I found it lovely, and I expect to visit it again, and again. |
Date Taken: 2023:03:18 16:20 |
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Location:
Sweetwater Wetlands Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_ZX92139_SweetwaterWetlands-Tucson-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
|
Description: My get-a-way drive from Yellowstone National Park carried me along the Yellowstone River. When I spotted a sizable waterfowl raft, I had to stop and visit them for a while. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:15 10:23 |
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Location:
Yellowstone River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/4000 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8500980-YellowstoneRiver |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
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Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:37 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507190-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
|
Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:35 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507174-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
|
Description: Competition among male Cinnamon Teals can be intense at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:05 14:33 |
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Location:
Jackson Hole |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8507150-JacksoHole-WY |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cinnamon Teal(Spatula cyanoptera) |
|
Description: Malheur NWR has been one of my favorite Oregon birding destinations since I found my way there in December 2003. Despite the lowest water levels I’ve seen in Marshall Pond at the refuge’s visitor center, There were still some good meetings with birds such as this Cinnamon Teal. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:25 9:39 |
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Location:
Malheur NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CinnamonTeal_8504834-MalheurNWR |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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