69 



Field Marks. Small size together with green speculum and lack of chalky blue on 

 shoulders are recognition marks for any plumage. 



Nesting. On the ground, near water. 



Distribution. Distributed across the continent but scarce in extreme east. Breeds in 

 eastern Canada occasionally and probably originally nested in the lower Great Lakes region. 



This is one of the daintiest of the Ducks. Its habit of flying in large 

 flocks at great speed makes it well known to sportsmen. The European 

 Teal, also, occasionally straggles to Canada but is very rare. 



Genus Querquedula. Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal. 



140. Blue- winged Teal. FR. LA SARCELLE A AILES BLEUES. Querquedula discors. 

 L, 16. Plate IV B. 



Distinctions. Size will separate the Blue-winged Teal from any other Duck except 

 the Green-winged and the Buffleheac! and the light blue on the wings will do so in these 

 cases. The Shoveller also has a similar blue on the wings, but the small size of the Blue- 

 winged and the lack of the broad shovel-bill distinguish these two species. 



Field Marks. Small size, together with white face mark, dark underparts, and chalky 

 blue on wings. 



Nesting. On the ground, amidst grass. 



Distribution. Across the continent; now rather rare in the extreme east. It is one 

 of the few species that still breed regularly though sparsely in the lower Great Lakes 

 region. 



A western Teal, the Cinnamon Teal, is occasionally reported from 

 eastern Canada, but most of such records are based upon the Blue-winged 

 heavily stained below with iron 1 from the water. 



Genus Spatula. Shoveller. * 



142. Shoveller. SPOONBILL. FR. LE CANARD SOUCHET. Spatula clypeata. L, 

 20. The male is strikingly marked, with a green-black head, white breast and line over 

 wings; underparts rich chestnut, cutting in a sharp line against the breast. The shoulders 

 are chalky blue and the speculum green. The bill widens out at tip to a broad shovel or 

 spoon shape. The female is much like the female Mallard though distinctly smaller. 



Distinctions. Shovel bill separates this species from all others in any plumage. 



Field Marks. White breast, rich chestnut belly, blue on the wings, and size dis- 

 tinguish the male. The bill will distinguish the bird in any plumage and when it can be 

 seen is perhaps the best means of separating the female from the larger female Mallard 

 which it resembles. 



Nesting. On the ground in grass, not always in the immediate vicinity of water. 



Distribution. This is a bird of the west. It occurs sparingly on the lower Great Lakes 

 and occurs farther east only as a straggler. 



Genus Dafila. Pintail. 



143. Pintail. SPRINGTAIL. FR. LE CANARD PILET. Dafila acuta. L, 28. A very 

 long and slender Duck. Head seal-brown, foreneck and underparts white, back finely 

 vermiculated in greys, speculum bronze-green bounded by a light chestnut line before 

 and a white one behind. The tail is graduated with two greatly elongated middle feathers. 

 Female is much like the female Mallard. 



Distinctions. The long tail is diagnostic of the male, the Old-Squaw being the only 

 other American Duck with anything like this feature, but otherwise the Old-Squaw is 

 entirely different and is a Sea not a River Duck. The bronze-green speculum and its 

 bounding lines of rufous and white are characteristic of any plumage. Young, Green- 

 winged Teal show almost the same speculum features but the difference in size will prevent 

 confusion. 



1 See footnote, page 64. 



