GREEN-WINGED TEAL 



By T. GILBERT PBARSON 



Cfje Rational J&i&Qtiation of Hububon Societies; 



EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 108 



Of all the forty-three kinds of wild Ducks that have been recorded in 

 North America, the Teals are the smallest. There are three of these, all 

 named from peculiarities of their markings. Thus we have the Blue-winged 

 Teal, Green-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, and, rarely, the European Green- 

 wing. The Cinnamon Teal is confined almost wholely to the western three- 

 fifths of the Continent, while the other two range largely throughout Canada, 

 the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the West India Islands. 



In attempting to give an idea of the actual size of these little wild fowl one 

 might say that the Green-winged Teal, for example, is about 14 inches in 

 length, and, when its wings are spread to their greatest capacity, the distance 

 from tip to tip is about 23 inches. As is the case with most wild fowl, the male 

 is much more brightly colored than his mate. Both are extremely attractive, 

 however, the softness of their plumage, the alertness of their manner, and 

 the wildness of their usual surroundings all tending to render the species par- 

 ticularly fascinating to students desirous of spying upon their movements. 



The summer home of the Green-wing is in the northern border states of the 

 United States and northward through Canada. The nests are made on the 

 ground in the vicinity of fresh-water ponds, sloughs, or marshes, to which the 

 young are led for food and shelter almost immediately after hatching. The 

 site chosen for the nest usually is well screened by a clump of grass or weeds 

 where the brooding parent becomes, in a measure, invisible from the eye of a 

 passing enemy. When it becomes necessary to leave the nest for a short 

 period, the eggs are completely covered by feathers and down that closely 

 encircle the eggs. This soft covering not only keeps the contents of the nest 

 warm, but in many cases must prevent discovery. These feathers are picked 

 from the belly and lower breast of the parent and tucked about the eggs to be 

 used for the very purpose just mentioned. 



The eggs are creamy buff in color and in size are about 1.75 by 1.30 inches. 

 When hatched, the young are entirely covered with a thick, fluffy down, grayish 

 and brown in color. The troubles of life begin for the young Teal the moment 

 they first see the light of day, for Hawks, weasels, skunks, foxes, and many 

 other enemies are on the lookout for these dainty tidbits, and many perish even 

 before they reach the shelter of the reeds along the margin of the pond to which 

 the parent quickly^conducts them. Even here they must keep in very shallow 

 water, otherwise turtles, pickerels, and other ferocious creatures may seize and 

 drag them beneath the water. Even along the shores, snakes are on the lookout 



(178) 



