120 



BIRDS OF AMERICA 



Nest and Eggs. — Similar to those of the Bald- 

 pate. 



Distribution. — Northern part of the eastern hemis- 

 phere; occurs in winter and in migrations rarely in 



Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Nova Scotia, New- 

 foundland, and Greenland south to Nebraska, Missouri, 

 Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina and Florida, and in 

 ■Alaska, British Columbia, and California. 



The European \\'id,£:eon is an Old World 

 species which occasionally appears in the western 

 hemisphere. Normally it breeds among the 

 grassy swamps and lakes of Norway and Sweden 

 and is accounted the most abundant of the Ducks 



in Lapland. Sometimes it breeds on the lakes of 

 northern Scotland but it is always an abundant 

 winter visitor to southern Scotland and through- 

 out England. In size and general character it 

 closely resembles the Baldpate. 



BALDPATE 



Mareca americana iCinclin) 



.\. O V. .Vumber 137 See Color I'late 13 



Other Names.— American Widgeon ; Bald Wid,geon ; 

 Green-headed Widgeon : Southern Widgeon : California 

 Widgeon ; White-belly : Bald-head : Bald-crown ; Ball- 

 face : Smoking Duck : Wheat Duck ; Poacher. 



General Description.— Length, i8 to 21 inches. 



Males are brownish-gray above, and brownish-red and 

 white below. Females are yellowish-brown above, and 

 brownish and white below. Bill, small, widest near the 

 base; tail with 14 feathers. 



Description. — Adult Male: Head with short crest. 



Drawn by R. I. Brasher 



BALDPATE (' nat. sizel 

 A shy, wary, and garrulous Duck 



