GREEN-WINGED TEAL 

 139. Nettion carolinense. 14 in. 



Head reddish-brown; speculum and large patch back 

 of eye. green; a white crescent in front of wing. Female 

 with the head arid neck whitish, finely streaked with 

 dusky; wings as in male. These ducks are abundant in 

 most parts of the United States, but are rather uncom- 

 mon in Xew England. They are usually seen in flocks 

 of ten or a dozen, and often a single bird, or two or 

 three, may be found with a flock of Mallards. They 

 frequent ponds, marshes and rush-grown shores of creeks, 

 rivers or lakes, feeding upon shellfish, insects, aquatic 

 plants and seeds. 



Notes. Shrill, piping whistles, rapidly repeated. 



Nest. On the ground under the shelter of tall grass; 

 it is made of weeds and grass, and lined with feathers. 

 They lay from 5 to 9 eggs, buffy (1.85x1.25); May, 

 June. 



Range. Breeds from the northern tier of states north- 

 ward; winters from Va., 111. and British Columbia, 

 southward. 



