67 



139. Green- winged Teal. fr. — la sarcelle A ailes vertes. Nettion carolinense. 

 L, 14-50. The smallest of our Ducks. The male has a chestnut-coloured head, bar 

 back from eye and speculum, iridescent green; finely vermiculated back, and spotted 

 breast; nearly white below. The female is a duU-brownish bird considerably hghter below 

 and has the characteristic green speculum of the species. 



Distinctions. Size will always separate this Uttle Duck from all others except the 

 next species and the BufHehead, but the presence of the brilliant green speculum will separ- 

 ate it from the latter and the entire absence of chalky blue on the shoulders from the 

 former. 



Field Marks. Small size together with green speculimi and lack of chalky blue on 

 shoulders are recognition marks for any plmnage. 



Nesting. On ground, near water. 



Distribution. Distributed across the continent but scarce in extreme east. Breeds in 

 eastern Canada occasionally and probably originally nested commonly in the lower Great 

 Lakes region. 



This is one of the daintiest of the Ducks. Its habit of flying in large 

 flocks at great speed makes it well known to sportsmen. The European 

 Teal also occasionally straggles to Canada but is very rare. 



140. Blue-winged Teal. fr. — la sarcelle a ailes bleues. Querquedula discors. 

 L, 16. Plate IV B. 



Distinctions. Size will separate the Blue-winged Teal from any other Duck except 

 the Green-winged and the Bufflehead and the hght blue on the wings will do so in these 

 cases. The Shoveller also has a similar blue on the wing, but the small size of ihe Blue- 

 winged and the lack of the broad shovel bi|l distinguish these two species. 



Field Marks. Small size, together with white face mark, dark underparts, and chalky 

 blue on wings. 



Nesting. On ground, amidst grass. 



Distribution. Across the continent; now rather rare in the extreme east. It is one 

 of the few species that still breed regularly though sparsely in the lower Great Lakes 

 region. 



A western Teal, the Cinnamon Teal, is occasionally reported from 

 eastern Canada, but most of such records are based upon the Blue-winged 

 heavily stained below with iron^ from the water. 



142. Shoveller, spoonbill, fr. — le canard souchet. Spatula clypeata. L, 

 20. The male is strikingly marked, with a green-black head, white breast and line over 

 wings, imderparts rich chestnut, cutting in a sharp line against the breast. The shoulders 

 are chalky blue and the speculvmi green. The bill widens out at tip to a broad shovel or 

 spoon shape. The female is much like the female Mallard though distinctly smaller. 



Distinctions. Shovel bill separates this species from all others in any plumage. 



Field Marks. White breast, rich chestnut beUy, blue on the wings, and size dis- 

 tinguish the male. The bill will distinguish any plumage and when it can be seen is perhaps 

 the best means of separating the female from the larger female Mallard which it 

 resembles. 



Nesting. On groimd in grass, not always in the immediate vicinity of water. 



Distribution. This is a bird of the west. It occurs sparingly on the lower Great Lakes 

 and only occurs farther east as a straggler. 



143. Pintail, springtail. fr. — le canard pilet. Dafila acuta. L, 28. A very 

 long and slenderly shaped Duck. Head seal brown, foreneck and underparts white, back 

 finely vermiculated in greys, speculum bronze-green bounded by a light chestnut Hne before 

 and a white one behind. The tail is graduated with two greatly elongated middle 

 feathers. Female is much like the female Mallard. 



Distinctions. The long tail is diagnostic of the male, the Old-Squaw being the only 

 other American Duck with anything like this feature, but otherwise the Old-Squaw is 

 entirely different and is a Sea not a River Duck. The bronze-green speculum and its 

 bounding lines of rufous and white are characteristic of any plmnage. Young Green- 

 winged Teal show almost the same speculum features but the difference in size will obviate 

 confusion. 



'See footnote, page 63. 



