DUCKS 



iM 



propas^ation is playing an important part. It 

 had been found that this Duck, through some- 

 what pecuhar but jierfectiy practicable methods, 

 can be bred and reared in captivity, birds thus 

 raised bringing high prices. Unite an industry 

 arose in breeding American Wood Ducks in 

 Holland and selling them in America. Now we 



have learned the process ourselves, and anyijne 

 who desires can breed these beautiful birds in 

 almost any small fenced i)ool or pond. To those 

 who desire it, the National Association of Au- 

 dubon Societies, through its Department of Ap- 

 plied Ornithology, imparts detailed information 

 and furnishes literature. Herbert K. Tor. 



REDHEAD 

 Marila americana (Eyton) 



.\. O. U. Xuniber 146 See Color ri.-ite t6 



Other Names. — American Pochard or Poachard ; 

 Red-liL-ailed P.roadbill ; Raft Duck; Red-headed Raft 

 Duck. 



General Description. — Length, 2j inches. Males 

 have the head red, the neck and fore part of the body 

 blackish, and the remainder of the body silver-gray 

 above and on the sides with a center line below of 

 white : females have tlie head duller and paler and the 

 back browner. Both sexes have the bill short, the skull 

 rounded and high-arched, the feathers on the head 

 fresenting a puffy af'fearance, and the hind toe with a 

 web or lobe. 



Color. — Adult Male : The entire head and the 

 neck all around, rich pure chestnut with bronzy reflec- 

 tions ; back, white crossed with fine black wavy lines, 

 the colors about equal in amount, producing a distinct 

 silvery-gray shade ; sides of body, the same ; lower neck 

 and fore-parts of body with rump and tail-coverts 

 above and below, blackish ; wing-coverts, gray finely 

 dotted with white ; speculum, ash, bordered inside with 

 black ; center line of body below, whitish ; bill, dull 

 blue with a black band on end ; feet, grayish-blue with 



dusky webs: iris. yetlozs.'ish-oraitge. Adult Fem.\lk: 

 Head and upper neck, dull brownish-red, fading to 

 whiter on cheeks, chin, and a space behind eye ; upper 

 parts, brownish, the feathers with paler edges; breast 

 and sides, brownish, remainder of lower parts, white; 

 bill, dull grayish-blue with brown belt near end ; feet 

 and iris, as in male. 



Nest and Eggs. — \est : On ground near water or 

 in a clump of dead reeds over the water; bulky but 

 well-constructed and lined with down. Eggs : 7 to 10, 

 pale nlive or light buff. 



Distribution. — North .America ; breeds from south- 

 ern British Columbia, central Alberta, central Sas- 

 katchewan, and southwestern Keewatin soutli to south- 

 ern California, Utah, southern South Dakota, southern 

 Minnesota, and southern Wisconsin ; winters from 

 southern British Columbia, Utah, New Me.xico, Kansas, 

 Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, and Massachusetts south 

 to Lower California, central Mexico, and Florida; 

 accidental in Jamaica ; in migration casual in Alaska 

 and regularly on the .Atlantic coast north to southern 

 Labrador. 



In the Redhead we have the counter|)art of the 

 Canvas-back. The young of either can hardly be 

 distinguished save by the shape of the bill, es- 

 ])ecially in the downy stage. Later they grow 

 more apart, yet they retain many resemblances. 

 Many a person who thinks he has eaten Canvas- 

 back has very likely dined instead on Redhead. 



It is usual to find the Redhead the more 

 numerous of the two, though along the Gulf 

 coast of Louisiana, where Audubon found Red- 

 heads in plenty, I have found them now to be 

 rare, even in sections where the Canvas-back is 

 abundant. Like the latter, it is found mostly on 

 the sea-coast or on the larger bodies of water 

 inland. It feeds much by diving, catching small 

 fish and other aquatic life. Also it is partial to 

 roots and shoots of aquatic plants. I have 



i'lioto by n. K. Ji.b CfUrtisy of Ouung I'ub. Cu 



YOUNG REDHEADS 

 Eighteen days of age 



