[161] BIRDS OF OREGON 



midwinter ride up the Wallowa Canyon. It occurs regularly and com- 

 monly on the Columbia throughout its entire course along the northern 

 boundary of the State and on the Deschutes and Klamath Rivers also, 

 and it may be expected on any of the streams and lakes of western Oregon 

 from November to March. We have winter records for Malheur, Wal- 

 lowa, Grant, Baker, Umatilla, Morrow, Wasco, Deschutes, Klamath, 

 and Harney Counties, and it undoubtedly occurs in all other eastern 

 counties wherever there is open water. It is one of the latest ducks to 

 arrive. Our earliest date is November 14 (Harney County); our latest 

 spring date, May 17 (Klamath County), although its numbers diminish 

 rapidly after March i. 



The American Golden-eye is an expert diver and feeds extensively on 

 animal matter obtained from the icy waters. The percentage of animal 

 food eaten while in Oregon is much larger than for most ducks, so that 

 its flesh is frequently strong and unpalatable. Perhaps this accounts for 

 the fact that it is not particularly sought by gunners and therefore remains 

 comparatively common. Seven stomachs, five from Klamath County, one 

 from Deschutes County, and one from Tillamook County, were examined 

 by the Biological Survey. Five contained mostly animal matter, consist- 

 ing of amphipods, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects, the latter being 

 chiefly larvae of aquatic forms. One of the birds from Klamath County, 

 however, had made almost a full meal on seeds of Hippuris, Scir-pus, and 

 Myriophyllum, and a finely ground mass of vegetable debris, and the 

 Tillamook bird had fed chiefly on a similar unrecognizable mass of vege- 

 table debris. 



Barrow's Golden-eye: 



Glaucionetta islandica (Gmelin) 



DESCRIPTION. "Similar to americana, but male with glossy blue black head, and 

 triangular or crescent-shaped spot at base of bill; female with head and neck dark 

 umber brown, white collar narrower, and white greater wing coverts tipped with 

 dusky; nail of bill over .2.3 wide." (Bailey) Downy young: "The downy young of 

 the Barrow goldeneye is very much like that of the common goldeneye. The upper 

 half of the head, from below the eyes, and the hind neck are deep 'bone brown' or 

 'seal brown'; the upper parts are 'bone brown,' relieved by white on the edge of the 

 wing and by scapular and rump spots of white; the lower half of the head and the 

 under parts are white; there is a brownish gray band around the lower neck." (Bent) 

 Si%e: "Male, length 2.1-13, w i n g 9- I 7> bill 1.75. Female, wing 8.46, bill 1.56." 

 (Bailey) Nest: In hollow trees, lined with down. Eggs: 6 to 15, pale green, almost 

 indistinguishable from those of the American Golden-eye. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in Greenland, Iceland, and Labrador; also from 

 Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon, and California east to Colorado and Montana and 

 north into Alberta and Mackenzie. Winters south on coasts to southern New Eng- 

 land and San Francisco Bay. In Oregon: Breeds regularly in higher Cascade Lakes 

 and possibly Wallowas and may be found sparingly in winter on coast. 



BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE, except in adult male plumage, is so easily con- 



