58 Birds of Colorado 



Habits. — The Golden-eyes are birds of strong flight, 

 and this is accompanied by a loud whisthng noise, caused 

 by the rapid vibration of their wings. They are there- 

 fore frequently known among gunners as " whistlers." 

 They prefer large open lakes, where they dive for their 

 food ; this consists chiefly of mollusca, Crustacea and 

 small fishes, though water-weeds are doubtless eaten 

 as well. The nest is always placed in a hollow tree, 

 often in a comparatively small cavity. The eggs, 6 to 10 

 in number, are bluish-green or sea-green, and average 

 2-50 X 1-70. 



Genus CHARITONETTA. 



Closely resembling Clangula, but with the nostrils nearer the base 

 of the bill than the tip. 

 One species only. 



Buffle-head. Charitonetta albeola. 



A.O.U. Checklist no 153— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210 ; 

 Morrison 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 56, 195 ; 06, p. 51 ; Henderson 

 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 226. 



Description. — Male — Head rather puffy in appearance, glossed with 

 green and purple ; a conspicuous white patch from just below the eye 

 to the nape ; lower neck all round, under-parts, some of the scapulars 

 and a patch on, the wing, white ; rest of the upper-parts dusky black, 

 becoming greyish posteriorly ; iris brown, bill dull blue, dusky on the 

 nail and base, feet fleshy. Length 15-0 ; wing 6-75 ; tail 3-0 ; culmen 

 1-10; tarsus 1-20. 



The female is dusky grey above, with a white spot below the ear- 

 coverts, a white speculxm:! and belly ; wing 6-50. 



Distribution. — Breeding from Wisconsin and Quebec, north to Hudson 

 Bay and Alaska ; south in winter, chiefly in the United States from 

 Massachusetts, Utah and British Columbia southwards to the Valley 

 of Mexico. 



The Buffle-head is a common Duck in winter and on migration in 

 Colorado. Mr. Hersey informs me there is always a flock all through 

 the winter on Barr Lake, near Denver ; it is better known perhaps as 

 a migrant arriving towards the latter haK of March. It is reported 

 from Fort Lyon, March 27th (Cooke), El Paso co. (Aiken), Boulder co. 

 (Henderson), and Loveland, March 20th (Cooke). Carter obtained 



