The Bird Book Part 16

[Ill.u.s.tration 092: Pale greenish buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Black Duck. Florida Duck.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco-photo.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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134a. MOTTLED DUCK. _Anas fulvigula maculosa._

Range.--Gulf coast of Texas and up the Mississippi Valley to Kansas.

The habits of this bird differ in no way from the preceding ones. The six to ten eggs are greenish buff in color. Size 2.15 1.55.

135. GADWALL. _Chaulelasmus streperus._

Range.--Northern Hemisphere, breeding in America, chiefly in the United States and north to Manitoba, chiefly in the interior.

South in winter to the Gulf. The males of these birds may be identified by the white speculum and the chestnut wing coverts. Gadwalls nest on the ground among the reeds of marshes or in the long gra.s.s of bordering fields; they make little or no nest but line the cavity with down from their b.r.e.a.s.t.s. They lay from seven to twelve eggs of a creamy buff color. Size 2.10 1.60. Data.--Benson Co., North Dakota, June 19, 1898.

Eight eggs. Nest on the ground among rank gra.s.s on a low island in Devils Lake. Made of weeds lined with down. Collector, E. S. Rolfe.

136. WIDGEON. _Mareca penelope_.

Range.--Northern Hemisphere, breeding in America, only in the Aleutian Islands; rare or accidental in other parts of the country.

The European Widgeon is similar in build and plumage to the following species, except that the whole head, with the exception of the white crown, is chestnut. They build their nests in the rushes, making them of reeds and gra.s.s and lining them with feathers. They lay from six to ten light buff colored eggs. Size 2.20 1.50.

[Ill.u.s.tration 093: Creamy buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Gadwall. Widgeon.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pale buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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137. BALDPATE. _Mareca americana._

Range.--North America, breeding in the interior from Texas north to Hudson Bay.

The Baldpate (so-called because of the white crown) or American Widgeon is a handsomely marked bird and is regarded as a great table delicacy.

The male birds cannot be mistaken for any other species because of the white crown, wing coverts and underparts and the broad green stripe, back of the eye. They breed locally in many parts of the country, building their nests of gra.s.s and weeds, neatly lined with feathers, on the ground in marshes. They lay from six to twelve creamy eggs. Size 2.15 1.50. Data.--Lac Aux Morts, North Dakota. Eight eggs. Nest of gra.s.s and down on ground in a gra.s.sy meadow. Collector, E. S. Bryant.

138. EUROPEAN TEAL. _Nettion crecca._

An old world species that is casually found on both coasts of America.

139. GREEN-WINGED TEAL. _Nettion carolinense._

Range.--Whole of North America, breeding chiefly north of the United States.

A small, handsome species, the male of which can readily be identified by the reddish brown head and neck, with the large green patch behind each ear; length fourteen inches. Green-winged Teals are our smallest representative of the Duck family. They are eagerly sought by sportsmen, both because of their beauty and the excellence of their flesh. They are among the most common of Ducks in the interior, where they nest generally in tufts of gra.s.s along ponds, lakes or brooks. Nest of gra.s.s and weeds, lined with down from the bird. Eggs buffy, four to ten in number. Size 1.85 1.25.

[Ill.u.s.tration 094: Creamy white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Baldpate. Green-winged Teal.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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140. BLUE-WINGED TEAL. _Querquedula discors_.

Range.--North America, breeding from northern United States northward; rare on the Pacific coast.

Another small species, known by the blue wing coverts and the white crescent in front of eye. They nest in the same localities with the preceding species, placing their nest of gra.s.s and weeds on the ground in meadows near water. Eggs buffy white. Six to twelve in number. Size 1.90 1.30.

141. CINNAMON TEAL. _Querquedula cyanoptera_.

Range.--Western United States, chiefly west of the Rocky Mountains.

Casually east to Texas, Illinois and British Columbia.

The Cinnamon Teal is another small Duck, marked by the uniform rich chestnut plumage and light blue wing coverts. The speculum is green. The nesting habits are the same as those of the Teals, the nests being placed on the ground in marshes or fields near water. Their nests are closely woven of gra.s.s and weeds and lined with down and feathers from the breast of the bird. The eggs are pale buff and number from six to fourteen. Size 1.85 1.35.

141.1. RUDDY SHELDRAKE. _Casarca ferruginea._

This is an Old World species that has accidentally occurred in Greenland.

[Ill.u.s.tration 095: Blue-winged Teal. Cinnamon Teal.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco-photo.]

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142. SHOVELLER. _Spatula clypeata._

Range.--Whole of North America, breeding in the interior from Texas northward.

This strikingly marked Duck is twenty inches in length, has a green head and speculum, blue wing coverts and chestnut belly. The bill is long and broad at the tip. It makes its nest on the ground in marshy places, of gra.s.s, weeds and feathers. Six to ten eggs const.i.tute a complete set.

They are greenish or leaden gray color. Size 2.10 x 1.50.

Data.--Graham's Island, North Dakota, May 28, 1899. Nest of dead weed stems and gra.s.s, lined with down. Ten eggs. Collector, E. S. Bryant.

143. PINTAIL. _Dafila acuta._

Range.--Northern Hemisphere, breeding in North America from northern United States northward, wintering south to Panama. This species, which is also known as the Sprig-tail, is very common in the United States in the spring and fall migrations. It is about thirty inches long, its length depending upon the development of the tail feathers, the central ones of which are long and pointed. They breed casually in many sections of the United States, but in abundance from Manitoba to the Arctic Ocean. They nest near the water, laying from six to twelve eggs of dull olive color. Size 2.20 x 1.50. Data.--Graham's Island, Devil's Lake, N.

Dakota, June 15, 1900. Ten eggs. Nest on the ground, of weeds, lined with down. Colony breeding. Collector, E. S. Bryant.