Among the earliest of spring migrants, the surprisingly hardy teal remain longer in the north in the fall than many dabblers. Autumn migrants commonly linger along the way, but the first snow and ice prompts the main flights to wing south in October and November. Even so, American teal may remain as far north as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in mild winters. Green-winged Teal are attracted to surprisingly small bodies of water. Pairs commonly nest in roadside puddles, meandering weed-choked creeks, muskeg sloughs and beaver ponds.
Drakes often outnumber females, leading to frequent hostile encounters between quarrelsome rivals.
Displaying males are given to seemingly endless rapid-fire, jerky movements, frequently interspersed with dazzling aerial courtship chases.