88 



YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES 



large amount of white in wing seen 

 both when wing extended and closed; 

 white of closed wing crossed by black 

 bar; row of white spots on black scapu- 

 lars; below white; bill blackish; iris yel- 

 low. Female: Head brown; white col- 

 lar; remaining upper parts generally 

 gray; white patch in wing. 



Frequents small lakes in timbered 

 areas of higher mountains in summer; 

 in winter chiefly in coastal waters. S. V. 

 to Sierra. In Yosemite region recorded 

 as nesting at Smedberg Lake, 9,223 

 feet, and at Table Lake, 7,000 feet; 

 one record for Pleasant Valley. 



BUFFLE-HEAD DUCK (Buceph- 

 ala albeola): 13-15 in. Fluffy, black 



BUFFLE-HEAD DUCK 



13-15 



RUDDY DUCK 



14-17 





-^. - ^ O 



head crossed just back of eye by large 

 whiU patch reaching from eye to eye 

 over crown; upper neck and under 

 parts white; extensive white patch in 

 wing; bill bluish-gray. Female: Upper 

 parts dark gray including head ; an 

 elongate, white area on side of head; 

 white patch in open wing. In flight 

 may give deep guttural notes; wings 

 vibrate rapidly; appears stocky with 

 large head; takes of! heavily, leaving 

 wake behind. Nests in tree cavities. 



Frequents bays and saltwater sloughs 

 rind, interiorly, fresh and alkaline lakes 

 and ponds. C. V. to Yosemite region. 



HARLEQUIN DUCK (Histrionicus 

 histrionicus): 15-17 in. General colora- 

 tion dark with slaty blue, appears nearly 

 black at a distance; conspicuous white 

 markings on head and neck; long white 

 crescent in front of eye, extending well 

 back over eye; several white marks on 

 side of face; narrow white neck-ring; 

 white bar in front of bend of wing; 

 flanks reddish-brown. Female: Dark 

 brown with two or three white patches 

 on side of head, one or two in front 

 of eye, and one in ear region ; no white 

 patch in wing. 



Frequents swift-flowing streams in 

 summer and rough water of the exposed 

 coast in winter. Uncommon R. Breeds 

 on the western slope of the central 

 Sierra. Breeding record for the Mer- 

 ced River in Yosemite Valley. 



RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamai- 

 censis): 14-17 in. Predominantly rusty 

 red in summer; top of head black; 

 cheeks and chin white; bluish, shovel- 

 shaped bill; tail feathers stiff and 

 pointed, often held erect; white area 

 under tail ; under parts silvery with 

 dusky markings. Female: Above, grr 

 ish-brown; below whitish; top of head 

 dark brown, sides of head whitish 

 broken by brown line from bill through 

 eye; bill dusky. Male in winter: Similar 

 to female but with blue bill and white 

 cheek-patch. In flight small, with thick 

 neck and flat head. Dives frequently. 



Occurs principally on fresh water. 

 C. V. to Yosemite region. 



