Teal, Azores

[Josh Jones]

Stumbled across this photo this evening (apologies if it has been mentioned anywhere previously), taken on the Azores this week:

http://azores.seawatching.net/bigpic.php?filename=ana_dis31.jpg&id=2394&spid=53

Unfortunately, it is the only image available (that I could find).

Josh

[AndyB]

Thanks for the link, hadn't seen this photo. Does appear to be broader-billed than the Blue-winged and has a cinnamon rusty breast which would make a 1st-winter male if it is a Cinnamon?

see bird on right with Blue-wingeds that might be a young male Cinnamon
http://www.birdcapemay.org/blog/uploaded_images/teal,-cinnamon-juv-male-SCMM-09-17-09-mobrien-773702.jpg

or this bird:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tony_leukering/3927729306/sizes/o/

all look similar to Azores bird even on head pattern.

I was concerned at first by the strength of the head pattern which is not typical for a female Cinnamon Teal
http://surfbirds.com/albums/showphoto.php?photo=7827

I tried to find a female bird with a stronger head pattern:
http://www.gobirding.eu/Images/Ducks/CinnamonTeal/Cinnamon%20Teal,%20Reifel,%208-Sep-06%20(1)%20L.JPG

[Josh Jones]

Yes, interesting bird. Sadly I don't know enough about them to make any kind of informed judgement, but from what I can see in the (rather poor) image there are a few features that fit with Cinnamon. I guess the bird is a drake (e.g. brightness of the speculum). I too was slightly put off by the apparent strength of head pattern but the image appears slightly over-contrasted (probably due to the poor light as much as anything).

It might just be the photo but are there a few rufous feathers coming through on the flanks?

[Martin Scott]

Interesting point re Cinnamon Teal in the new BBRC report. BOURC have relegated the 2004 bird from Category D to E.

So what new evidence has come along to drop this down the alphabet, at a time when others ie Hooded Merganser, are on the rise?

So are they saying that they cant make it to Britan in a wild state?

MSS

[Josh Jones]

Interesting point re Cinnamon Teal in the new BBRC report. BOURC have relegated the 2004 bird from Category D to E.

So what new evidence has come along to drop this down the alphabet, at a time when others ie Hooded Merganser, are on the rise?

So are they saying that they cant make it to Britan in a wild state?

MSS

Martin/all

Were there any reasons given regarding the relegation? Agreed it does seem slightly ludicrous when a number of (probably) dodgy Hooded Mergs are sailing through.

Wonder if anyone has further images of the Azores teal...?

J

[Alex Lees]

Interesting point re Cinnamon Teal in the new BBRC report. BOURC have relegated the 2004 bird from Category D to E.

So what new evidence has come along to drop this down the alphabet, at a time when others ie Hooded Merganser, are on the rise?

So are they saying that they cant make it to Britan in a wild state?

MSS

It was my understanding (though I might have got the wrong end of the stick) that the intention is to get rid of 'D' entirely.

[JHvS]

There are a few pictures on the dutchbirding website of a (the?) bird with (I think) a too heavy eyestripe for Cinnamon: http://www.dutchbirding.nl/gallery.php?p=pic&gal=8

[AndyB]

I guess I'm intrigued why it's plumage has so many rusty feathers though. Doesn't seem typical for Blue-winged Teal.

[Josh Jones]

I guess I'm intrigued why it's plumage has so many rusty feathers though. Doesn't seem typical for Blue-winged Teal.

Shame I guess we will never know... doesn't seem to be all that much interest in it! As with Andy I'm fascinated by the presence of rusty feathers.

[CAU]

I would agree with JHvS on Blue-winged Teal due to the strong head pattern. I believe that the rusty feathers are a red herring, as they look like worn juvenile feathers. Note that in addition to the breast, also the tail and some scapulars look uniformly rusty, whereas they should be differently coloured on a breeding plumage male Cinnamon Teal. Additionally, the rusty flank feathers look much more worn than the brown ones (but still show a hint of the pale edge, whereas they should be uniformly coloured on summer plumage male Cinnamon Teal feathers).