296 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



BuFFLE-HEAD. Chavitomtta alheola 



14.75 



Ad. $. — A snow-white patch from back of eye over top of 

 head ; rest of head and neck apparently black, crested and puffed 

 out at the side (at close range showing purple, violet, and green 

 reflections) ; broad ring around neck and under parts pure 

 white ; back black ; wings black, with large white patches ; bill 

 dark gray ; legs and feet flesh-color. Ad. 9- — Head, neck, and 

 upper parts sooty-brown ; large spot hack of eye whitish ; wings 

 brown, showing white when spread ; under parts (except throat 

 and neck) white ; bill, legs, and feet dusky. 



Nest, generally in a hole in a tree, usually near the water. 

 Eggs, grayish- white, tinged with green. 



The Buffle-head is a rather common migrant in October, 

 March, and April along the coast of Xew York and New 



England, occurring also 

 on large inland streams 

 and ponds. It is a rather 

 uncommon winter visit- 

 ant from southern 

 Maine southward, and is 

 reported as breeding 

 sparingly in northeast- 

 ern Maine (Knight). It 

 is the smallest of the 

 sea ducks, and among the 

 river ducks only the 

 Green-winged Teal is 

 smaller. It dives with the quickness of a grebe. Its 

 habits along the sea-coast are similar to those of the 

 Whistler, and it is often associated with that species, pre- 

 ferring the mouths of rivers, and the harbors and coves 

 along the shore to the shoals well out at sea. 



A male may be known by the large patch of white in 

 the head, extending from behind the eye to the top of the 

 head. The head-feathers are long, and give the head a 



Fig. 85. Buffle-head 



