82 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



in April 1892. Mr. Herrick believes that females are also taken occasion- 

 ally, but owing to their close resemblance to the female of the Baldpate 

 they are not recognized. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



The adult male agrees with the Baldpate in having the "forehead and fore part 

 of crown, posterior half of middle wing-covert region, and belly, plain white; speculum 

 nietallic green anteriorly, velvety black posteriorly; crop plain vinaceous; sides, flanks 

 scapulars, and back, delicately waved with dusky upon a paler ground; under tail-coverts 

 ])lain black." In addition the adult male in winter and spring has " Head and upper neck 

 plain rufous, the forehead varying from white to ochraceous; crop antl sides of breast 

 vinaceous; sides, flanks, and whole back white, waved with blackish" (Ridgway). Fe- 

 males, males after the breeding season, and young of both sexes are likely to be mistaken 

 for similar sexes and ages of the Baldpate, and can be positively identified only by the 

 expert who has proper material for comparison. 



Length, 18 to 20 inches; wing, 10 to 11; culmen, 1.35 to 1.45. 



37. Baldpate. Mareca americana (Gmel.). (137) 



Synonyms: Widgeon, American Widgeon, Green-headed Widgeon, Bald Widgeon, 

 Poacher. — Anas americana, Gmel., 1789, and many authors. — Mareca americana, Steph., 

 1824, and authors generally. 



Figure 17. 



Adult male recognizable most easily by the large amount of white on 

 the wings (most of the coverts), the green speculum bordered behind by 

 velvet black, and the broad patch of metallic green on the side of the 

 head behind the eye. 



Distribution. — North America, from the Arctic Ocean south, in winter 

 to Guatemala and Cuba. Breeds chiefly north of the United States, and 

 west of the Mississippi. 



Apparently not a common duck in this state. It is found sparingly 

 during migration, but we find no evidence that it nosts lipro. l^vol^al^ly 

 it never winters within our 

 limits, but arrives from the 

 south late in March and passes 

 north of our boundaries during 

 April, returning late in Septem- 

 ber and lingering until Novem- 

 ber, or even December. It is 

 usually found in small flocks, 

 a dozen or less, but associates 

 freely with other species and 

 has earned the name of Poacher 

 by its habit of keeping with the 

 Canvasbacks and Redheads 

 when they are feeding in deep Fig. n. Baldpate. 



water and stealing from them a From Bailey-s Handbook of Birds of the Western 

 . , , , , p ,^ United States. (Houghton, Mifflin & Co.) 



considerable part of the succu- 

 lent grasses, waterweeds and roots which they bring to the surface. It is 

 j)articularly wary and suspicious, and much disliked by gunners because it 

 not only protects itself but gives the alarm to less watchful ducks of 

 other species. It does not decoy readily, docs not dive except when 

 wounded, and when travelling usually flies in "company front" instead 

 of single file. 



