 Breeding evidence |
 Relative abundance |
 Probability of observation |
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Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
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Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
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Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
[%squares plot]
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Atlas Results
Green-winged Teal were found in 1,118 squares across the province. They were most common in the Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition and parts of the Moist-Mixed Grassland ecoregions, becoming less common towards the southeast. In the boreal forest, Green-winged Teal were more localised, often seen on the southern edge of the forest, and regularly seen on river expeditions down the Churchill River east of the Stanley Mission, the Gwillim and Mudjatik Rivers south of Cree Lake, and the MacFarlane River south of Lake Athabasca, as well as around Wollaston Lake. Breeding was confirmed in 78 squares, with the earliest nest with eggs found on 1 June near Arcola, and the first broods seen on 9 June near Maymont.
Note: During all years of the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas drought conditions persisted and the Atlas range maps for all waterfowl, waterbirds, and wetland-associated species should be viewed as characteristic of distribution and abundance during dry conditions. Read the full drought statement here.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
The Green-winged Teal is the smallest North American dabbling duck, about the size of a pigeon, and easily identified by its size and fast, agile flight. Often flushed from secluded waters of tree-ringed ponds that are the favoured nesting habitat. It is widely distributed across North America as a summer resident throughout the treed regions of Alaska, Canada, and the western and northeastern US. Green-winged Teal winter in the Aleutians, coastal British Columbia, the Great Lakes, and the Maritimes, south to northern Central America and the Caribbean (AOU 1998).
In parkland and boreal regions, Green-winged Teal are strongly associated with wetlands surrounded by trees (Smith 1996) or with heavily vegetated edges. Wintering birds are usually found at springs; at dams and power plants they are more often found in the canals associated with these structures than in the more open water frequented by other ducks.
During the breeding season, Green-winged Teal are widely distributed in the parkland, boreal, and subarctic regions, but uncommon and local breeders in the grasslands (Smith 1996).
Original text by Vanessa Harriman. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Green-winged Teal in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Green-winged Teal in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=GWTE&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]
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