102 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



WOOD DUCK (Aix sponsa) 



Formerly a common summer resident throughout the 

 area. Now nests in a few scattered localities, and is un- 

 common to very rare as a transient. It is essentially a species 

 of woodland swamps or forest-bordered streams, and always 

 nests in hollow trees. The last few years of protection have 

 yielded results, and this retiring bird is now noted more fre- 

 quently, chie% in late August and early September. The 

 gorgeous drake is unmistakable, but the female is an obscure 

 duck with a white wing patch and a white eye-ring. The 

 note, a plaintive, whistled oo-eek, is characteristic. The 

 swamp at Van Cortlandt Park is the best place near New 

 York ( 1 ity to observe the Wood Duck. 



Long Island. Uncommon transient; rare in summer; breeds 

 locally; March 23 to May 6; July 21 to November 27, and casually 

 to December 16. 



ORIENT. Rare visitant, except Gardiner's Island where it 

 probably still breeds. A pair noted during the summer of 

 1920. December 16, 1908 is the latest date. 



MASTIC. Uncommon transient; may breed. Noted May 

 6, 1916 and July 21, 1918. 



New York State. Formerly common, now very rare and 

 local. 



CENTRAL PARK. Very rare visitant, formerly much more 

 frequent. The recent records are September 21, 1904 (Bilder- 

 see), September 18, 1909 (Hix) to early October, 1909 (Anne A. 

 Crolius); May 6, 1910 (Griscom); September 29 to October 



8, 1917 (Hix). 



BRONX REGION. Still breeds regularly in the swamp at 

 Van Cortlandt Park. Arrives as early as March 27, 1920 (E. 

 G. Nichols). Migrants were unquestionably present September 



9, 1916 (C. L. Lewis). The latest date is November 11, 1916 

 (Hix). As many as forty birds have been seen in a flock. 



New Jersey. Formerly common throughout, and reported as 

 having wintered on the Hackensack marshes (R. T. Morris). 

 Now extirpated, or rare and local. Much suitable breeding terri- 

 tory in northwestern New Jersey is unexplored, however. Still 

 breeds near Elizabeth (Urner), near Boonton (Carter), near New- 

 foundland (Miller), at Culver's Lake (Miller and Griscom). 



