A blue-winged teal (Spatula discors) pair was seen at the Oven in the Ramble, Central Park, on April 15, 2019. These dabbling ducks are not seen that often, especially in Central Park, so I spent a few hours filming the pair as they fed along the shore, rested, stretched the wings so we could see the blue, mated, and rested some more.

Blue-winged teal, the Oven, Central Park, April 15, 2019

Blue-winged teal, the Oven, Central Park, April 15, 2019

The Filming the Feathers video features these ducks feeding, spreading the wings (8:28 and 10:27) and mating (13:01), set to music by Christoph Graupner (Concerto for 2 Violins in G minor, GWV 334), performed by Steve’s Bedroom Band and obtained from MusOpen.org, a royalty-free music source.

The male blue-winged teal shows off his blue wing. On the right, the pair mates.

The male blue-winged teal shows off his blue wing. On the right, the pair mates.

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The female mallard on the shore is very much larger than the blue-winged teals.

The female mallard on the shore is very much larger than the blue-winged teals.

More photos of the teal pair, taken April 15, 2019.