80 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 61, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



abundant visitor on Bering Island, but less common on Copper 

 Island. The species also occurs in the Pribilof Islands. 



Apparently, while nesting, the teals are less susceptible to the 

 predations of the blue fox than are most other waterfowl, though 

 the chief of Atka Village declared that they were much more 

 numerous in early days. They generally occupy shallow, weedy 

 ponds, though they also spend much time on the beaches — some- 

 times on boulder beaches. They feed extensively along the beach 

 margin and are often found on salt water. This was noted par- 

 ticularly on Ogliuga Island. The nest found on Amchitka Island, 

 July 7, 1937, was situated in the dense stand of Elymus border- 

 ing the ocean beach, and the female repeatedly was observed 

 feeding on this open beach. 



Cottam and Knappen (1939) have reported on the contents 

 of five stomachs of this species, and say that "three out of four 

 birds taken in coastal Alaska had fed almost exclusively on soft- 

 bodied crustaceans." The authors felt that the high percentage 

 of animal matter (80.2 percent) was probably not typical and 

 would not be maintained in a larger series of stomachs. However, 

 our observations on the feeding habits of these teals in the Aleu- 

 tians are in accord with these findings from the stomach analyses. 



Evidently, the common teal winters in the Aleutians. We were 

 assured of this by the natives of Attu and Kanaga, and residents 

 of Unimak also stated that teals winter there. Furthermore, 

 Donald Stevenson, who spent several winters in the Aleutians, 

 furnished positive evidence of it, for in his field reports he said, 

 in part (referring to Unalaska Island), 



They were again noted here Nov. 2, 1920, and at intervals in the month 

 of November until November 21. Then again here January 7, 1921, to 

 January 31, 1921. Being often observed feeding in small pools of salt water 

 along the beach after the cold weather had set in and had frozen the fresh 

 water streams. . . . Existed in great numbers at Umnak Island, near Otter 

 Point November 22, 1920, in small fresh water pond, and in large fresh 

 water stream. . . . Observed about five hundred here Dec. 13, also noted here 

 Dec. 18, 1920. Specimens taken were in a fine fat condition. 



In 1943, Cahn noted 1 common teal at Unalaska Island on Oc- 

 tober 14, and 2 on December 2. Taber noted a flock of 47 at 

 Clam Lagoon, Adak Island, from November 1945 to late January 

 1946. Sutton and Wilson saw a male at Attu, March 5, 1945. 



Anas carolinensJs: Green-winged Teal 



The common teal occupies the Aleutian Islands, and the green- 

 winged teal occupies the Alaska Peninsula. There is some over- 



