WOOD DUCK 223 



JUVENILE. In first plumage, up to September, sexes are alike and somewhat 

 resemble adult female; crown is dark brown but in male has a greenish lustre; 

 sides of the head and forehead, dull grey, with white ring around eye more con- 

 spicuous in young female; stripe over eye and area between bill and eye, dull white; 

 throat white in both sexes, but in male, white extends up into cheek and side of 

 neck as in adult male; eye, light brown in young male, dark brown in young 

 female; upper surface of body, brown, with metallic lustre of purple, green and 

 bronze; breast and belly, whitish, mottled with dull brown; chest and sides, whitish, 

 tinged with bright brown or buff. During September and October, mottled breast 

 of young male becomes white, chest becomes rich chestnut and sides become 

 vermiculated. During October, adult head-pattern and much of the brilliant iri- 

 descence of back and scapulars is acquired. By November, young of both sexes are 

 practically adult. Full perfection of adult plumage during second spring. Wing of 

 Male. Essentially as in adult male but somewhat duller; lesser and middle coverts, 

 with less blue tertials, shorter, narrower, and dull brown. Wing of female. As in 

 adult female. 



SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION 



MALE. WINTER PLUMAGE: General effect: A small, gorgeously-coloured, strikingly- 

 marked duck. Chief distinguishing features (a) hind toe without lobe, (b) unique 

 combination of iridescent colours of crested head, body, and wings, (c) dull- 

 yellow feet. 



In hand it is difficult to confuse the male with any other duck. (The Cadwall 

 and the tiny Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teals are the only other River and 

 Pond ducks with yellow feet.) 



AUTUMN AND JUVENILE PLUMAGE: See "Descriptions." 



FEMALE. General effect: A small, drab, greyish-brown duck, with a white 

 breast. Chief features (a) hind toe without lobe, (b) elongated crest, (c) dull- 

 yellow feet, (d) bright-hued wing. 



The female Gadwall, which is another brown-backed, white-breasted duck 

 of this subfamily, also has yellow feet, but its white speculum will prevent confusion. 

 The crest and bright wings of the female Wood Duck will distinguish it from 

 the female Baldpate and European Widgeon, and from the tiny brown-backed, 

 female Teals. 



FIELD MARES 



ON THE WATER. The conspicuous and distinctive markings of the male 

 render enumeration of field marks almost unnecessary; the white-striped, crested 

 head, white throat, dark chest, and body 

 are readily recognized. The drake sits 

 "proudly" on the water; he floats high and 

 buoyantly, with tail well elevated, and 

 looks very much on the alert. The red- 

 and-white colour of the bill is noticeable 



at a surprising distance. The white eye-ring, white throat and thin crest will 

 identify the more drab female; the female displays more colour than does the 

 female of most other species. 



IN FLIGHT. The flight is swift and direct. The carriage of the head of 

 both sexes is distinctive; the head is held high, above the level of the body, with 



