MOTTLED DUCK 



173 



Mottled Duck 



Anas fulvigula maculosa 

 (a-nas, ful-vi'g-u-la, mak-u-16-sa) 



Colour Plate No. 8. Downy Young No. 33. 



SCIENTIFIC NAME 



Anas, Latin, meaning a duck; fulvigula, from Latin fulvus, meaning tawny, 

 reddish, and gula, meaning a throat; maculosa, Latin, meaning spotted, stained. 



COLLOQUIAL NAMES 



Canard noir d'ate (summer black duck); southern mallard. 



DESCRIPTION 



ADULTS, BOTH SEXES. WINTER PLUMAGE: Practically identical with the 

 Black Duck though somewhat smaller and differing as below. Feathers of sides 

 of chest have markings similar to those of Florida Duck. 



ECLIPSE AND AUTUMN PLUMAGE: Same as those of Black Duck. 



JUVENILE. By early autumn plumage of both sexes closely resembles that 

 of adult though speculum of young male is not only duller but occupies less area 

 than that of adult. Feathers of sides of chest, of both sexes, have markings as in 

 adult female. During late autumn and winter the progress towards maturity is 

 rapid and by spring plumage is adult except for wings. Plumage is fully adult 

 by second autumn. 



SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION 



ADULTS, BOTH SEXES. Gen- 

 eral effect: A large mottled-brown 

 duck. Chief distinguishing features 

 (a) hind toe without lobe, (b) 

 purplish speculum, bordered in 

 front and behind with black, and 

 sometimes narrowly behind with 

 white, (c) cheek, finely streaked 

 with dusky markings extended to 

 base of bill, usually some streaking 

 on chin and throat, (d) bill, same 

 as in Florida Duck, but spot at 

 base less distinct, (e) broad, paler 

 edges to feathers of back. 



From other mottled-brown 

 ducks it is separated as follows: 

 the female Mallard and the New 

 Mexican Duck have black and also 

 white bars in front of and behind 

 the speculum though in New 

 Mexican species the white bar in 

 front may be indistinct or lacking. 

 Its near neighbor the Florida Duck, 

 has pale buffy cheeks, with streak- 



