This bright male Green-winged teal is so colorful in it’s breeding plumage, with the bright green speculum and cinnamon colored head.  These small ducks are very common  and widespread in North America but certainly not common in western North Carolina.   It was a nice surprise to have the opportunity to photograph this beautiful male in his breeding finery.  The Green-winged Teal is quite small, actually about the size of a crow! The green-winged Teal us our smallest dabbling duck.