108 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



RING-NECKED DUCK (Marila collaris) 



There is still some doubt about the exact status of this 

 species on Long Island. Giraud, whose account shows that 

 he was thoroughly familiar with it, states that "a few are 

 seen almost every spring and autumn along the south shore 

 of Long Island/' and De Kay makes approximately the same 

 comment. Dutcher, however, regarded it as accidental, and 

 gave three definite records, the only dates being April 27 

 and November 3. It most certainly cannot be regarded as 

 strictly accidental, and it would be easily overlooked among 

 the large number of Scaup Ducks. The female looks like a 

 small Redhead, and is very difficult to distinguish from a 

 Scaup. The male, however, is easily recognized, when sitting 

 on the water, by its tufted, puffy head, black back, and darker 

 bill. The wing stripe is gray, not white. 



Long Island. Probably a very rare or casual transient. Only 

 three records. Observers should look out for this bird most care- 

 fully. A single individual, possibly crippled, was observed several 

 times near Port Jefferson from mid-October, 1918 to March 16, 

 1919 (Theodore Dreier). 



GOLDEN-EYE (Clangula dangula americana) 



The Golden-eye or Whistler is one of the most conspicuous 

 winter waterfowl on the bays of Long Island. At the western 

 end, however, it is decidedly uncommon, occurring chiefly 

 after severe cold waves, when it is temporarily frozen out of 

 more suitable quarters. On the Hudson it is now rare, and 

 occurs rarely or casually on smaller bodies of water inland. 

 It is preeminently a cold weather duck, rarely arriving in 

 numbers before December, and only stragglers remain after 

 April 1. It is, therefore, quite surprising that inland records 

 are chiefly in April. 



Perhaps the best place near New York City to see the 

 Whistler is Princes Bay, Staten Island, where a few birds 

 occur every winter. The puffy head, short neck, large amount 



