116 GAME BIEDS OF CALIFOBNIA 



Cinnamon and Bine-winged teals, in addition to their green speculums, 

 have large patches of light blue on the wing, while the rare European 

 Teal lacks the white bar across each side of the breast. The small 

 body size, close flock formation, and erratic flight serve as good field 

 marks in separating teal from other ducks. 



Green-winged Teal are known to nest in small numbers within the 

 state. Goldman (1908a, p. 129) found a nest with seven eggs at 

 Tulare Lake, Kings County, July 7, 1907, and several other birds of 

 this species were also present in the vicinity. There is also a report of 

 two sets of Green-winged Teal eggs secured at Tulare Lake in June, 

 1910, which were sent to Judge F. W. Henshaw and hatched out on 

 his place at Redwood City. This additional instance strengthens a 

 surmise which Goldman makes that there is a breeding colonj^ in the 

 vicinity of Tulare Lake. Evermann (1886, p. 89) states that a few 

 bred in Ventura County in former years. Belding (MS) states that 



Fig. 1.3. Side of bill of female Green-winged Teal. 

 Natural size. Compare with bill of Cinnamon Teal (fig. 14). 



he found a few nesting in Sierra Valley, Plumas County, in June, 

 1885. This w^as after a dry winter. Residents told him that in 

 seasons following abundant rainfall many more representatives of 

 the species nested there. 



In eastern Oregon during the breeding season this teal is said to 

 prefer the smaller mountain streams to the larger bodies of water 

 (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 1884, II, p. 4). The nests of this 

 duck resemble those of other species. One found by W. P. Taylor 

 (1912, p. 357) in northwestern Nevada at Quinn River Crossing, 

 Humboldt County, on June 4, 1909, "... was located in a depres- 

 sion on moist ground, and surrounded by the tall grasses of the marsh. 

 The' nest was composed of willow twigs and grass stems so loosely 

 felted together that the structure could not be picked up intact. The 

 cavity measured 127 mm, (5 inches) in diameter and 70 mm. (2% 

 inches) deep. Four eggs M'ere found in the nest, and one other on the 

 ground at a distance. . . Strangely enough, no down feathers were 

 noted anywhere in the vicinity." McGregor (1906, p. 119) describes 

 a nest from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, as being ". . . on the 

 ground beneath the overhanging trunk of a twisted willow; it was 



