69 



Dislribution. Although some representatives of this subfamily are found commonly 

 on every water-way in Canada both species and individuals are more numerous on the 

 coast than in the interior. 



The Bay and Sea Ducks, though more at home in large open waters, 

 often frequent the marshes and shallower waters for feeding. They are 

 good divers, sometimes descending to astonishing depths for shell-fish 

 or vegetable matter. They include some of the finest table species. 



Economic Status. The direct economic importance of their food 

 habits is even less than that of the other Ducks. 



146. Redhead, fr. — le milotjin a t^te rousse. Marila Americana. L, 19. A 

 rather large Duck with an even coloured, brick-red head and upperneck; black breast: 

 grey back finely vermiculated with black; white below. Head of female duller in colour, 

 even to dull grey-brown, and canvas-coloured back replaced by an even wash of brown 

 sometimes without hint of fine vermiculation. 



Distinctions. Male resembles the Canvas-back but back considerably darker and 

 red of head does not come to shoulders as in that species. Females of these two species are 

 even more ahke, but shape of the biU is always diagnostic (See Canvas-back). Female 

 also somewhat Uke those of Scaup and Golden-eye but distinguished by grey instead of white 

 speculum or wing patch and absence of any white face mark. Ring-necked Duck has a 

 similar speculum but is a much smaller bird and has the white face mark. 



Field Marks. Colour of head and outline of head and biU. 



Nesting. Usually on land or elevated over water, nest of reeds with more or less 

 down. 



Distribution. Usually only a migrant east of the prairie provinces, though at one time 

 a few bred locally in Great Lakes region; rare on east coast. 



One of our finest Ducks and when fed on wild celery its flesh has as 

 fine a flavour as that of the Canvas-back. It is rather less of an open 

 water bird than many of the Sea Ducks and is often found on marshes 

 and ponds. 



147. Canvas-back. fr. — milouin aux yeux rouges. Marila valisineria. L. 21 

 A large Duck; male with dull brick-red head and neck; black breast; white below; back 

 white with very fine dark vermiculations bearing a close resemblance to canvas and to 

 which the species owes its name. In female the redness of head and neck is reduced to 

 brownish-grey and the back is brownish. 



Distinctions. Colours very close to those of comparable Redhead plumages; dis- 

 tinguished from Redhead by shape of bill which in Canvas-back is longer and heavier, 

 springing from well up on forehead and giving an almost straight culmen line rather than a 

 concave one as in Redhead. Male much whiter on back and the red comes down to the 

 shoulders instead of stopping halfway down the neck. Young and females may possibly 

 be confused with the Scaups, Ring-bill, or Golden-eye, but may be separated by superior 

 size or the lack of white or grey on the wing or of white on the face. 



Field Marks. Red or reddish, or reddish-grey head, lack of white on face or wing, 

 and shape and outUne of head and bill. 



Nesting. Built over water, in nest of reeds lined with down. 



Distribution. Of regular though not very common occurrence on lower Great Lakes 

 east to lake Erie; rare on Atlantic coast but more common in western Canada where it 

 breeds. 



One of the best known and most highly esteemed of the Ducks. The 

 Canvas-back is associated in the popular mind with terrapin and high- 

 Uving. This gastronomic fame is largely due to the wild celery, Vallisneria 

 spiralis, upon which it frequently feeds and from which its specific name 

 is derived. However, many other Ducks feeding upon the same plant 

 become equally palatable. On the Great Lakes the introduction of the 

 German Carp has proved very destructive to the once extensive beds of 

 wild celery and wild rice both of which plants are extremely attractive to 



