BLACK DUCK 305 



blackish; back dusky, barred with buff; speculum black; throat 

 and neck buff, streaked with dusky, breast and sides reddish- 

 brown, with dusky spots on the breast; rest of under parts white; 

 bill and feet brown. 



The Widgeon is a migrant through New York and New 

 England, common in the lower Hudson Valley, uncom- 

 mon off Long Island, and in New England. It occurs in 

 September and October, and in April. The male may be 

 known by the white forehead; care must, however, be taken 

 not to confuse the female Scaup, a diving duck, with the 

 Widgeon. (See p. 299.) 



Black Duck. Anas obseura 



Ked-legged Black Duck. Anas obseura rubripes 



22.00-25.00 



Ad. $ . — Top of head blackish; sides of head, neck, and throat 

 light buffy-brown; rest of plumage dark brown (apparently black, 

 except in strong light) ; speculum iridescent purple or greenish, 

 edged with velvety black ; under sides of wings silvery ; bill broad 

 and fairly long, yellowish-green or olive in the Black Duck (see 

 note below) ; feet of Black Duck brown. 



Nest, on the ground, generally near the water. Eggs, varying 

 from pale buff to pale greenish-buff. 



The Black Duck breeds throughout New England and on 

 Long Island, commonly in the northern portions of New 

 Hampshire and Maine, rarely in southern New England and 

 on Long Island. It is a very common migrant in March 

 and April, and from August to November. Along the sea- 

 coast it is a winter visitant, abundant in southern New 

 England and on Long Island, not so common along the 

 Maine coast. It feeds at night in ponds and marshes, or up 

 the tidal creeks and estuaries, retiring by day either to the 

 shelter of reeds or to the sea, well off shore. 



It may be known when it flies by its dusky or blackish 

 under parts, and by the silvery lining under its wings. 

 The American Scoter is also entirely black, and the two 



