BALDPATE 185 



The male European Widgeon and Gadwall are more like this duck than are 

 any of the others. The European Widgeon has a bright, cinnamon-red head, a 

 creamy crown and mottled undei wing-surface, with axillars almost completely flecked 

 with grey; the Gadwall has a white speculum and chestnut wing-patch. 



AUTUMN AND JUVENILE PLUMAGE: See "Descriptions." 



FEMALE. General effect: A medium-sized, yellowish-brown duck, with a white 

 breast. Chief features (a) hind toe without lobe, (b) dull black speculum, with or 

 without green, bordered inwardly with white, (c) blue-grey feet, (d) underwing 

 surface, pale ashy, not mottled, and axillars white. 



In this subfamily the other white-breasted, brown ducks of medium size are 

 the female European Widgeon, which has a mottled underwing-surface and a 

 more reddish coloration, and the female Gadwall, which has more white in the 

 speculum and has yellow feet. The resemblance to the female Pintail is super- 

 ficial; the specula of the two species are quite distinct. 



FIELD MARKS 



ON THE WATER. Baldpates appear as small, brownish ducks. They sit 

 buoyantly on the water, chest low and tail well elevated; bend of wing is carried 

 low, and tip of wing is pointed upwards; they pivot frequently as they feed and 

 appear ever on the alert. The shiny white 

 crown of the male, dark headpatch and 

 pale grey neck give these parts a some- 

 what pie-bald appearance; the large white 

 patch on each flank near base of tail is 

 noticeable on the males at considerable distance. The closet resemblance is to 

 the rarely-encountered European \Vidgeon, whose red head and light grey back 

 will identify; when these species are seen together the male Baldpate looks like 

 a dark-bodied bird with light head, while the male European Widgeon looks like 

 a light-bodied bird with dark head. Gadwalls are similar but lack the white 

 crown; their white speculum, if visible, appears near the rear of their body as 



they sit; they lack the white flank-patch; 

 they are longer of body than Baldpates and 

 rest less buoyantly on the water. The female 

 Baldpate is very similar to female Gadwall. 



IN FLIGHT. These ducks fly swiftly in 

 small compact flocks in irregular formation, 

 with many twis tings and turnings. They are 

 prompt to take alarm and rise quickly and 

 vertically from the water, making a rattling 

 sound with the wings. Flocks are readily 

 recognized by the conspicuous markings of 

 the drake: the white crown and breast, large 

 white patch on forewing and black under tail- 

 coverts being very noticeable. The females show the white breast, whitish wing- 

 patch, and grey underwing surface, and are similar to the female Cadwall but 

 show no white in the speculum. 



VOICE. The males have a wild and musical note, whew, whew, whew, re- 

 peated constantly in three's, both when flying and on the water; the female utters 

 a qua-awk, qua-awk and a louder cry, kaow, kaow. Their quacks of alarm seem 

 to express great terror. 



