BUFFLE-HEAD DUCK. 



Charitonetta alheola (Linn.). 



The adult male has the head and upper neck black. 

 From behind and below the eye a very broad white band 

 or patch extends backward to the ends of the feathers. 

 The black of head and upper neck is brilliant with 

 metallic reflections of green and purple. The feathers 

 of head are long and loose, giving it a puffy appearance, 

 and they can be raised so as to make the head seem very 

 large. The back is black, fading to ashy on the upper 

 tail-coverts. The tail is gray, with whitish edges. The 

 lower neck, entire under parts, greater wing-coverts, 

 outer scapulars and some secondaries, white. The quill 

 feathers of the wing are gray, the bill is lead color, the 

 eyes brown and the feet flesh color or lavender. 



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