Bird Walk October 2026

About

Join local birders to gather long-term data on the presence and abundance of birds and changes in their populations.

Now that fall migration is in full swing, it’s not so much the passerines (perching birds) we see as it is hawks, ducks, and geese. Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal are among the many species of ducks seen in Vermont. Blue-winged Teal arrive later in the spring and depart earlier in the fall than Green-winged Teal. Most Blue-wings have left by October, just as Green-wings are reaching their peak fall movement.

Identifying teal in the fall can be tricky. A Blue-winged Teal is easier to identify in flight, but on the water, both males and females are dressed in relatively drab browns. Green-winged Teal—our smallest dabbling duck—have thinner bills and show a distinctive vertical buff-colored streak near the tail.

Meet at the Welcome Center parking lot. The walk includes uneven terrain along forest and meadow trails and around the main house. Appropriate for birders of all skill levels. A limited number of binoculars will be available. Please register.  Email Programming@hildene.org with any questions.

Pricing
Accessible Price — Free
Actual Cost of Attending — $25
Pay-It-Forward Price — $50

Bird Note: Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal

Although fall migration is in full swing, it's not so much the passerines (perching birds) we see as it is hawks, ducks and geese. Both Blue-winged Teal and Green-wing Teal are among the many species of ducks seen in Vermont. The Blue-winged Teal arrives later in the Spring and departs earlier in the fall than the Green-winged. Most Blue-wings have left by October with Green-wings at their peak of movement.

Both teal are small, fast-flying ducks, the females a non-descript brown. But the breeding male Blue-winged sports a distinctive white crescent shape behind the bill. In flight the wings flash light blue on the leading edge of their wing.

Green-winged males have a dark red-brown head with a wide green eye comma. At a distance a white, vertical strip forward on the body is diagnostic on a sitting bird.

Identifying fall teal can be difficult, however. The time of year helps. A Blue-winged Teal in flight is easy, but all the male and female fall birds on the water are garbed in drab browns. The Greens are our smallest dabbling duck with thinner bills and show a vertical buffy streak at the tail.