REDHEAD DUCK. 



Ay thy a americana (Eyt.). 



In general aspect like the canvas-back, for which it 

 is often mistaken. The adult male has the feathers of 

 the head full and puffy. The head and neck are bright 

 reddish-chestnut, often glossy with coppery reflections ; 

 the upper part of back, lower neck, breast and rump, 

 and upper and under tail-coverts, black. The back, 

 shoulder feathers of the wing, sides and flanks, whitish, 

 cross-marked with black lines, slightly wider than in 

 the canvas-back, thus giving the whole plumage a 

 darker tone. The speculum is pale bluish-gray, bor- 

 dered with black above and tipped with white. The 

 primaries are dusky, some of the inner quills being dark 



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