366 



RUDDY AND MASKED DUCKS 



greyish buff; chest, dusky, broadly tipped with buff; remainder of plumage, mottled 

 with dusky, greyish and buffy tints. A more or less distinct dark stripe on the 

 side of the face, but no clear white area on cheeks. This plumage is worn until 

 January or February, when it becomes like that of the adult in winter; by the 

 end of May an almost full summer-plumage is assumed by the male. Wing of Both 

 Sexes. Same as those of adult. 



SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION 



MALE. IN WINTER PLUMAGE: General effect: A small, dark-backed duck, with 

 whitish underparts and long stiff tail. Chief distinguishing features (a) hind toe 

 with lobe, (b) solidly-white cheeks and dark crown, (c) a spike-like tail, with 

 practically no coverts. 



IN SUMMER PLUMAGE: General effect: A small duck with reddish-chestnut upper- 

 parts, whitish breast and long stiff tail. Chief distinguishing features (a), (b), (c) 

 as above, (d) a bright blue bill. 



FEMALE. IN WINTER OR SUMMER PLUMAGE: General effect: A very small, blackish- 

 brown duck, with a whitish breast and long tail. Chief features (a) hind toe with 

 lobe, (b) dark crown and whitish, mottled cheek, (c) stiff tail with practically no 

 coverts. 



In winter garb the sexes are more likely to be confused with each other 

 than with any other duck. The solid white cheeks of the male and its larger 

 size will separate. In summer plumage the male can not easily be confused with 

 any other duck. The Masked Duck, occasionally encountered in certain Eastern 

 States, is very similar, but the male of that species lacks the white cheeks and 

 has instead a black mask covering the forepart of the face; it also has a con- 

 spicuous white patch on the greater coverts. The female Masked Duck lacks the 

 black mask, but has two black streaks on side of face, one through the eye and 

 one from the base of bill; the white patch on the coverts, as in the male, is 

 present but is smaller in area. 



JUVENILE. See "Description." 



FIELD MARKS 



ON THE WATER. Whether in its bright sum- 

 mer plumage with its reddish-brown back, or in its 

 drab, dark-brown winter-garb, the male Ruddy is 

 instantly identified by the erect, fan-shaped tail, the 

 pure white cheeks offset by the dark crown, and its 

 chunky build. The female lacks the pure white 

 cheeks of the male and does not carry the tail erect, 

 but has the same unmistakable build and is the 

 same colour as the male in winter plumage. 



IN FLIGHT. In winter plumage, the 

 short, solidly-brown wings, white cheeks, 

 white breast, chunky build and rapid 

 wing-beats will identify either sex. The 

 red colour of the male will identify it in 

 summer. The Ruddy rises from the water 

 with extreme difficulty, and patters along 

 the surface for a long distance before 

 clearing, but once under way it is fast, 

 has a jerky, uneven gait and flies with 

 considerable noise of the wings. The flight 

 appears tail-heavy. 



