As far as the AOU and the ABA are concerned it is a subspecies.
Apparently, the British have re-split the species (it was split
until 1973 or so, when I started birding), and many have recently
speculated that the AOU will followed (and the ABA will do pretty
much anything to expand the ABA list).

My view is, watch those identifiable subspecies, enjoy them and
keep track of them, independent of whether they "count" or not.
Celebrate diversity. There are ecological and evolutionary
reasons why they are recognizable even if there aren't enough
reproductive barriers or genetic markers to split them...

Jack Stephens wrote:
>
> Could someone please clarify the status of the Common Teal? Is is considered
> a separate species, or a race of the Green-winged Teal?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jack Stephens
> Edmonds, WA
> jstephens62xx at home.com
> remove xx for return e-mail

--
Mike Patterson Alas, to wear the mantle of Galileo,
Astoria, OR it is not enough to be persecuted
celata at pacifier.com by an unkind establishment,
you must also be right.
---Robert Park
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html