[2] It is restricted to the Andean highlands of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.

It inhabits freshwater wetlands, preferring palustrine habitat to rivers.

[1] Mitochondrial DNA sequence data is most similar to that of the very different-looking green-winged teal.

Traditionally, there are 2 subspecies: This species and the yellow-billed teal are sometimes considered conspecific under the name speckled teal (A. flavirostris), but increasingly taxonomists treat the two as distinct species.

When split, the scientific name A. flavirostris is restricted to the yellow-billed teal.