166 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



RUDDY DUCK {Erismatura jamaicensis) . 



Common or local names: Toughhead; Stiff-tailed Widgeon; Dipper; Dapper; Dopper; 

 Bluebill; Broad-bill; Broad-bill Dipper; Hard-headed Broad-bill; Bumblebee 

 Coot; Creek Coot; Spoonbill; Sleepyhead; Dunbird; Dumb-bird. 



Female. Male. 



Length. — About 15 inches. 



Adult Male in Breeding Plumage. — (Rarely seen in Massachusetts.) Cap 

 black; cheeks and chin white; upper parts, throat and fore neck bright 

 reddish brown; upper part of breast tinged with reddish brown; rest of 

 under parts Hght silvery gray; tail brownish black, the quill feathers 

 stiff and pointed; no white on wing; legs and feet ash; bill light blue 

 and broad. 



Adult Female and Male. — (As commonly seen in fall.) Top of head dark 

 brown; a dusky stripe through whitish cheek (males have plain white 

 cheeks in winter, Eaton); back grayish brown, with fine buffy bars; 

 below silvery ash; bill dusky or bluish. 



Young. — Resemble female; some specimens lack the stripe on cheek. 

 Authorities differ as to whether these are adult males, females or young. 



Field Marks. — Size of Teal; figure short, plump, squatty; rather low fore- 

 head, thick neck; long broad bill curves upward. Prefers to dive rather 

 than fly. Sometimes carries tail erect, but Scoters occasionally do so. 



Notes. — A rather silent species, possibly hence the name Dumb-bird. 



Nest. ■ — In a slough or marshy place, generally on a mass of floating vege- 

 tation. 



Eggs. — Six to ten, creamy or buffy white, about 2.50 by 1.80. 



Season. — Rather common locally in autumn, late September to December; 

 rarer in spring; a few summer; possibly some winter. 



Range. — North America. Breeds from central British Columbia, Great 

 Slave Lake, southern Keewatin and northern Ungava south to north- 

 ern Lower California, central Arizona, northern New Mexico, north- 

 western Nebraska, southern Minnesota, southern Michigan, southern 



