MASKED DUCK 



373 



and tipped with whitish; jeet, same as those of male. Tail, brownish black; upper 

 coverts, brownish black, lightly flecked with buff; under coverts, brownish buff. 

 Wings. Lesser coverts, dark brown, very lightly sprinkled with buffy specks; middle 

 coverts, same as lesser coverts, but outer ones white; middle greater coverts, white, 

 others, dark brown; primaries and secondaries, dark brown, middle secondaries, 

 white basally; tertials, dark brown; lining, pale brown; axillars, white. 



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

 but are more uniform below, lacking black markings and light edges. By spring 

 young male resembles adult but black mask is mottled with whitish feathers, and 

 underparts are pale whitish. 



SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION 



ADULT MALE. General effect: A very small, rusty cinnamon-red duck, with 

 a long tail. Chief distinguishing features (a) hind toe with lobe, (b) black mask 

 to head, (c) spike-like tail-feathers, (d) white patch on wings. 



ADULT FEMALE. General effect: A very small, brownish-black duck, with 

 a long tail. Chief features (a) hind toe with lobe, 

 (b) two black streaks on creamy cheeks, (c) and (d) 

 as in male. 



The Masked Duck occurs casually in certain 

 eastern States, and closely resembles the Ruddy 

 Duck. 



JUVENILE. See "Description." 



FIELD MARKS 



Similar to Ruddy Duck and distinguished by markings as above. 



LIFE STORY 



This little duck, which derives its name "masked" from its black 

 face, is very much like our own little Ruddy Duck. Though its habitat 

 is no further removed than northern South America and the West In- 

 dies, it seldom visits this continent; and on account of its rarity it is of 

 little immediate interest to our gunners and naturalists. 



It has a spikey tail, which it car- 

 ries in the same manner as the Ruddy 

 Duck; in style of flight and grebe-like 

 aquatic ability, it is the counterpart 

 of the Ruddy; its eggs are of practi- 

 cally the same size, 2.48 by 1.80 

 inches, and its nesting habits are 

 similar. It is a fat little duck and, 

 in its native land, is much esteemed 

 as a table bird. 



