94 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



46. Lesser Blue-bill. Marila affinis (Eyt.). (149) 



Synonyms: Little Scaup Duck, Little Blackhead, Raft Duck, Flocking Fowl, Shuffler. 

 — Fuligula affinis, Eyt., 1838.— Fulix affinis, Baird, 1858, B. B. & R., 1884. 



Plate III. 



Not distinguishable from the preceding at gunshot range, nor with the 

 bird in hand except after careful examination. The principal difference 

 lies in the measurements. 



Distribution. — North America in general, breeding chiefly north of 

 the United States, migrating south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



The Lesser Bluebill is mainly migratory in Michigan, and probably 

 one of the most abundant migratory ducks of the state, occurring in suitable 

 places everywhere, inland as well as on the Great Lakes. It is always 

 found in large flocks, which gather in great companies in open water and 

 on its feeding grounds, whence it gets the name of "Raft Duck and Flock- 

 ing Fowl." It gets most of its living by diving and is fond of the same 

 food as the Redhead and Canvasback with which it associates more or 

 less. It is much less suspicious than either of these birds, comes readily 

 to the decoys, and is therefore one of the good table ducks most often 

 bagged by the gunner. It appears in spring as soon as the melting of the 

 ice permits, indeed in some years numbers undoubtedly remain in favorable 

 localities throughout the winter. The great majority pass north as soon 

 as navigation opens and nest far north of our boundaries. Nevertheless 

 a few undoubtedly nest each year within our limits. Mr. Newell A. Eddy 

 of Bay City states that he is satisfied that it breeds in the marshes at the 

 mouth of the Saginaw River; the late W. H. Collins found many of these 

 birds, wdth the Greater Bluebill, at St. Clair Flats in the summer of 1879, 

 but did not find any nests, believing that he was too early for them, although 

 one nest of the Greater Bluebill was found (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, V, 62). 

 Mr. Swales (letter, October, 1904) says "I have seen this species several 

 times at the Flats in June, July and August. The past summer a flock of 

 some 15 to 18 birds remained all of June and July near Bryant's on the 

 Snibora. This flock consisted of both males and females and they Avere 

 wary and apparently in excellent condition. I have no doubt that they 

 bred on the Dickinson Island marshes, protected. A number of the 

 residents tell me that a few pairs still breed in the isolated parts and in the 

 marsh near the mouth of the Clinton River, Lake St. Clair." 



In North Dakota Mr. Bent found the nest to be "A hollow scooped in the 

 ground profusely lined with dark, almost black down mingled with a little 

 dry grass and occasionally a white feather. They are late breeders, a major- 

 ity of the eggs laid during the second week in June or later." He found as 

 many as fifteen eggs in one nest, but the average was from ten to twelve. 

 He states that the eggs are "rich olive buff, and the lightest types approach 

 somewhat the darkest types of the Mallard's eggs, and the darkest types 

 are rich dark buff or deep coffee-colored. The nests were all on dry ground, 

 but never more than fifty yards from water." (Auk, XIX, 265-66). 



As with many other species the male Bluebills flock by themselves 

 after the females begin to sit. The eggs average 2.25 by 1.58 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult male: Bill light grayish blue, with a black nail; head, neck, chest and upper 

 back black, the head generally with a ptirplish gloss; most of breast, belly, and sides pure 



