The speckled teal group are similar to the Northern Hemisphere green-winged teal (common, Aleutian, and American), There are 4 recognized subspecies.
altipetens (Conover, 1941) - E Andes of Colombia to NW Venezuela.
andium (P. L. Sclater & Salvin, 1873) - Andes of Colombia and N Ecuador.
oxyptera Meyen, 1834 - Andes from C Peru to NW Argentina.
flavirostris Vieillot, 1816 - N Argentina S to Tierra del Fuego; Falkland Is, South Georgia
oxyptera are generally referred to as sharp-wings. They tend to be the smallest, and have more distinct markings.
As with several other waterfowl groups, the taxonomy here is changing. Some references say there are only 2 subspecies. the story's not done.
I would compare this with the difference between Gulf Coast and Florida mottled ducks. There are small differecnes, but only if you've seen alot of both.
Quote:
same family, different subspecies. Just look real similar
Like Clint was saying there, if you have 2 side by side, you can see it, but that's pretty much it.
On the chilean and sharpwing they are the most similar of the 4 in the group
Also like he was saying, the sharpwing basically is identical for the most part, but is a little more brilliantly (brighter and shiny) colored than the slightly duller chilean.
Bill is a little brighter yellow also.
toejam (ok that cracks me up first of all) come visit us this fall when they all get pretty again and see what you want to get!
I just got some Sharpwing last weekend.. yeah I now I needed them
Go with the colorful one and get your some tree ducks! I think the eytons are my favorite! or the black belly. my dad liked the white face.
and someone on here or maybe a few of you suggested books for me to get to read..... Natural history of the waterfowl by Frank Todd and Waterfowl: care, breeding and conservation by Simon Tarsnane.. and I got a few others off of amazon! Let's just say the History of Waterfowl was not a good idea because of the Wonderful Color Pictures..... I am so going to make me a Stiff-tailed only pen.. Who knew their were 8 different species of Ruddies and I have found 4 of them near by! Not good
The Chiloe Widgeons are fun to watch but mine are alittle agressive. And one of my hens mated up with a Shoveler.
As far as prices. Several breeders have websites (I may never find the time to get mine done) and I just look at what they have and the prices they are charging. Of course then you have to figure in shipping and I normally buy from people that I can drive to. Of course for me I wouldnt mind driving 8-10 hours and spending the night and visiting with another Bird nut to see their pen and birds and talk to them about things that work and don't. Of course getting my dad out of there is like pulling teeth! I wish I could get my two sons more involved! I am hoping that comes in time. I think right now they are just sick of babies.. Ducks, chickens, quails, turkey, pheasants.. They are everywhere!!
I would love to visit but there are 2 reasons I can't this fall.
School(not like a few days off won't hurt
)
And my dad said no more birds this year. And I couldnt drive to your place and not return with SOMETHING
. Maybe I can talk my dad into going to destin next year for spring break again lol. I could pay shawn another visit lol.We drove right past Huntsville though .I told him, that's where 2 duck breeders and antoine Dodson are from! And spring break is in the next calender year
Anyhow back on topic....
I will look into those books, since I've heard a lot of good things about them. And can't never go wrong with teal!
And I always love visiting other bird people too. It's hard to get my dad to go places too but he doesn't regret it once he is there.
Im the same as your Dad Justin. I just gotta be motivated. Kanga's place looks like "The Bomb"! Hopefully she'll let me visit one day. Careful though She has full blown "duck flu". Highly contagious!!!
You never really get over it and it can reoccur( I know this personally). Oh I also agree with you 100% Boggy Bottom Bantams. Im truly sorry but internet Phantoms just dont carry much weight with me . Thats just my own personal opinion. Cant change me on this. Don't try.
Quote:
Are you seeing a therapist for you quackaholic dissorder?
Quote:
He says no more birds now but give him time and do your research and prove to him that you are ready to take on a few more and that it won't be that much of a change to add a few more birds. My dad said no more birds after the ringed teal, 9 days later he drove me an hour and a half to get my silver pintails, later around christmas i ended up with some normal bahama pintails, by this time he said no more birds of any kind. Then i ended up with some sebastopols, button quail, bob white quail, split a holderreads order with the neighbor hatched out a bunch of domestic duck eggs, got given to me a coffee can full of coturnix and button quail eggs plus and additional 92 pheasant eggs. And all he has done so far is give me the evil glare and shook his head and walked away.
I given him some time, because there aren't many for sale in the summer. I havent pushed him too hard because we havent quite finished the aivary, so there really isn't too many places too keep em. We have em In a outdoor dig kennel. But once that pen is done in a few days.... This fall will be interesting