Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 22. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 22nd Lecture (ca. 1799): "526. Blue winged Teal. Bill and crown black; base of the Bill bounded with black; on each cheek a white patch of a lunar shape; the remainder of the cheeks and neck of a brown colour; body covered with dark brown feathers edged with light russet, which gives it a shell like appearance; coverts of the wings, blue (caerulean); primaries dusky; speculum green; sides near the tail white; tail brown; feet yellow. Anas discors Linn. Sarcelle mâle de Cayenne, ditte le Soucrourou Buff. pl. enl. 966. White faced teal Catesby 1. 100. Pennant No. 503. Latham No. 50. These are esteemed our finest teal for the table. It is said to extend as far south as Guiana. 527. Female is almost intirely brown." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
An undated scrap of paper tucked into Peale's 21st lecture manuscript contains a scribbled list of duck specimens, including: "Blue wing discors." (ANSP Archives, coll. 40)
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "We have two species of teal; the Greenwing teal (a. carolinensis) and the blue winged teal (a. Discors). They [S. discors] are beautiful Birds and are much esteemed for the table. not noted as belonging to Europe" (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481).
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Blue-winged Teal / Anas discors" in American Ornithology vol. 8, published posthumously (Pl. 68), where "Peale's Museum, No. 2846" was cited (Wilson 1814: 74). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175758#page/90/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175758#page/83/mode/1up (plate)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Blue-winged Teal
Current Scientific Name
Anatidae | Spatula discors
