358 MERGANSERS 



AUTUMN PLUMAGE: In early autumn the adult male commences a moult 

 out of the female-like eclipse plumage towards full winter dress. The wing is as 

 in winter plumage. In the first stages, new green feathers can be seen on the 

 head, and a few white ones on the neck. (A specimen at the Royal Ontario Mu- 

 seum of Zoology taken on October 19, 1932, at Lake Francis, Man., shows a coat- 

 ing of dusky down on areas of the head, as described under American Mergan- 

 ser). The reddish-brown chest-feathers with their dark markings begin to ap- 

 pear; new black feathers are sprinkled on the brownish back, and white ones 

 appear on the outer scapulars; on the sides many vermiculated winter feathers 

 are noticeable. In later autumn the head-pattern of the winter male becomes ap- 

 parent, but the green head and white neck-ring still include some old brownish 

 feathers; the chest markings are well developed; the back is black or brownish 

 black, but lacks the sheen of full winter plumage. The long black-and-white side- 

 feathers which overlap the bend of the wing can now be seen, and only a few 

 old eclipse-feathers persist on the sides. By early December, almost full winter 

 plumage has been attained, backward birds retaining a few brownish feathers on 

 head, neck and back. 



ADULT FEMALE. Head and neck (except foreneck), cinnamon brown; 

 chin, throat and foreneck, whitish, shading into brown of neck; crown, with thin 

 double-pointed crest, dark greyish brown; an indistinct darker brown line through 

 eye; bill, dull red, featheration on bill and position of nostril same as in male 

 (fig. 54); eye, red, or straw colour. Body. Back, rump and sides, brownish 

 grey; scapulars, brownish grey, longer ones blackish brown; chest, greyish white; 

 breast, white; belly, greyish; feet, same as those of male, but duller. Tail, ashy 

 brown; upper coverts, brownish grey; under coverts, white. Wings. Lesser and 

 middle coverts, brownish grey; greater coverts, basally black, with broad white 

 tips, outer ones black; secondaries, basally black, with broad white speculum, 

 outer ones black; black of greater coverts forming a black bar across white 

 wing-patch; primaries and tertials, brownish grey, lighter on inner webs; lining, 

 brownish grey and white; axillars, white. 



JUVENILE. In autumn the sexes are alike and resemble the adult female 

 but have a shorter crest. In December sexes begin to differentiate and black 

 feathers appear on head, neck and scapulars of young male. Later, the adult 

 markings of chest and sides begin to appear and young males are easy to iden- 

 tify. (See features (c) and (d) below.) In late spring young males pass into 

 the eclipse and the fully adult plumage is achieved by second November. Wing 

 of Both Sexes. See juvenile American Merganser. 



SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION 



MALE. WINTER PLUMAGE: General effect: A large, dark-backed, white- 

 breasted duck, with crested, black head. Chief distinguishing features (a) hind 

 toe with lobe, (b) typical merganser bill, long, narrow, cylindrical and toothed, 

 (c) nostril near base of bill, (d) feathering on upper mandible extends forward 

 to a sharp angle and forward of the feathering on the lower mandible (fig. 54), 

 (e) dark head, with straggly, double-pointed crest, (f) white collar and reddish 

 band, spotted with black, across upper-chest. 



The typical merganser bill will distinguish the male from the ducks of any 

 other subfamily. In full plumage this duck is known from the American Mer- 

 ganser by its straggly crest, white collar and reddish upper-chest, and by its dark, 

 vermiculated sides. In worn or in immature plumage features (c) and (d) will 

 provide positive identification. 



