KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



225 



Genus AIX Boie. 



(Female.) 



(Male.) 



AIX SPONSA {Linn.). 

 Wood Duck. 



Adult male : Bill red marked with rose-white and a black stripe on the middle of the upper 

 mandible and tip ; under mandible black ; head with decided crest, which shows white, metallic 

 green, and purple ; a narrow superciliary line from the bill to the occiput and another stripe of 

 white behind the eye extending to the nape ; chin and throat white, extending upwards in a 

 streak on sides of head, back of eye ; a stripe passing upwards on the side of the head; sides 

 and front of the lower neck and under breast purplish chestnut dotted with white spots ; under 

 parts white, sides sometimes grayish showing faint pencilling of dusky lines ; upper parts 

 showing bronze green and purple ; speculum bluish green edged with black and white. 



Length, 18.50; Wing, 9.50; Bill, 1.40. 



Adult female : Crest small but the feathers somewhat lengthened ; head and neck grayish, 

 whitening on the chin and front of the eyes ; front of the neck and breast pale brown mottled 

 with grayish ; the breast showing numerous brown spots which fade away on the lower breast ; 

 belly white. 



Length, 18; Wing, 9.30; Bill, 1.35. 



This species ranges from the Gulf northward to Hudson's Bay, breeding 

 nearly throughout its range ; it is common in the interior of Florida and has 

 been taken in Cuba and Jamaica. The eggs are pale brownish white and 

 usually number from seven to fourteen. It nests in a hole in a tree. 



