BLUE-WINGED TEAL (continued) 
(b) Greenish black, usually smoothly rounded, never 
with wispy tips, edged with tan which is never 



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AN MMMAToRE 
TYPE 
SHOVELER 
All birds having specula that are entirely gray or dull non- 
iridescent green or with only a few of the most proximal secondaries 
showing traces of green iridescence are females. A complete lack of 
fridescence is more common among immatures than among adults. The 
presence of a speculum, however, does not necessarily indicate a male. 
Most females show cream edging on the lesser and middle coverts. 
This often covers all these feathers particularly on adult females. 
Immature males may show a few cream-edged feathers near the "wrist" 
but otherwise do not have this character. 
The tertials of the juvenile male plumage are brownish and much 
frayed, while those of adults and first winter immatures are greenish 
black and much longer. The tertial coverts of the juvenile male 
plumage are brownish black and often show a fringed fraying. Adult 
tertial coverts are blackish, often washed with blue. Both juvenile 
tertials and juvenile tertial coverts are usually present during October. 
Immature males generally have small dusky spots on their greater 
coverts, while adults do not. 
The tertials of the juvenile plumage of females are similar to 
those on immature males. The tertials of adult females are wider and 
more heavily washed with white at the tips, and are unfrayed. 
17 
