THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL, sot 
berries and acorns are added to the watery fare of insects, worms, and snails, 
while fallen grain and the water-soaked rice of the Carolinas is especially 
acceptable. 
When surprised upon the water, the Teal clears its surface with a single 
bound, and makes off on sharply whistling wings with great swiftness. If 
the situation is open, the opportunity requires quick work with the gun, but if 
there are surrounding trees to clear, a good chance comes as the birds are 
rising. In midflight the wings are agitated with almost incredible rapidity, 
and it is an interesting thing to contrast their motion with that of a flock 
of Mallards—which is by no means slow—to which the birds sometimes 
join themselves. 
There is no reason to believe that Green-wing Teals breed in Ohio, tho 
they may formerly have done so; the birds winter, however, wherever there 
is open water. 
No. 288. 
se BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 
fo 
vy A. O. U. No. 140. Querquedula discors (Linn.) 
Description —Adult male: Forehead and crown (narrowly) and region 
about base of bill bright blackish; a large white crescent on side of face before 
eye; rest of head and upper neck warm plumbeous, with metallic, wine-purple 
reflections (like the plumage of certain doves) ; fore-neck and entire under parts 
to crissum, including lengthened feathers of sides (nearly meeting across back 
when wings are folded) purplish-vinaceous or purplish-chestnut, heaviest on 
breast, paling laterally, spotted on crop and sides, and barred on breast, belly, 
and longer flank feathers, with blackish; upper back and scapulars greenish fus- 
cous, with narrow and elongated V-shaped markings of vinaceous-cinnamon : 
inner scapulars and tertiaries, narrow and elongated, greenish dusky, striped with 
vinaceous-cinnamon ; lower back and behind nearly plain dusky; crissum and tail 
externally blackish; flanks white; wing-coverts and outer webs of outer scapulars 
and tertiaries a beautiful light grayish blue; speculum shining bronzy green (not 
so bright as in Nettion carolinensis, more “sickly” ) with dusky on either side, 
and bordered in front by broad white tips of greater coverts ; axillars and lining 
of wings mostly white; “bill grayish black; feet dingy yellow with dusky w ebs 
and claws; iris brown” (Coues). Adult female (and male in summer): Wing 
substantially as before, or greater coverts not so extensively white-tipped; no 
other indication of prime pattern; head, neck, and under parts dull buffy or pale 
brownish buff; the first two finely streaked, save on chin and upper throat, the 
last variously spotted and marked with dusky, lightening on belly; back and 
scapulars brownish dusky, blackening on longer feathers, narrowly edged with 
light brownish. Young: “Similar to adult female, but whole belly immaculate, 
and speculum dull grayish brown without metallic gloss” (Ridgw.). Length 
4.50-16.00 (368.3-406.4) ; av. of six Columbus males: wing 7.34 (186.4); tail 
2.60 (66.); bill 1.60 (40.6); tarsus 1.20 (30.5). 
