150 YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES 



Generally blark; rump, wing-patch, belly, and about face white; crown red— 



ACUKN WOODPECKER 

 Generally black; head white— WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER 

 D. Intermediate between Brewer's Blackbird (lU in.; and Crow il8 in.) 



Black crescent on breast; white on rump; reddish-orange beneath wings — R£D- 

 SHAFTED FLICKER 



(13) BIRDS THAT HOLD THE TAIL ERECT 



A. About Mze ol Juiico id in.) or siiialler 



Beak cuiAcU; tending generally toward brown; active — WRENS 



Brownish on head; eye whitish; relati\ely long tail; below light gray — BUSH-TIT 

 Below buffy; above brown; gutteral, scolding note; relatively long tail — WREN-TIT 

 * B. Larger than Crow (18 in.) 



Tail relatively short; generally gray; chunky; wings short — SOOTY GROUSE 



(14) BIRDS THAT BOB OR TEETER 



A. About size of Junco (6 in.) or smaller 



Above dark brown; laint ime o>er eye; tail very short — WINTER WREN 



Tail rich, rusty-brown; throat and breast white; bill slender, curved — CANYON 



WREN 

 Above grayish-brown, speckled; tail barred; rocky areas — ROCK WREN 



B. Intermediate between Junco (b in.) and Brewers Blackbird (ID in.) 



Below white, doited with round, dusky spots; pebbiy shores — SPOTTED SAND- 

 PIPER 

 Body slate-gray; tail short; mountain streams — AMERICAN DIPPER 



(15) DUCKS AND DUCK-LIKE BIRDS 



These birds are frequently observed at a distance, making it difficult to estimate size; 

 thus they have been keyed out chiefly on the basis oi the d stribution of black, white, etc. 



A. Generally Black or with Conspicuous Black or Dark Markings 



1. Generally black (dark) 



Flanks brownish-red; yellow ''ear" tufts at sides of head; slender bill (12-14 in.) — 



EARED GREBE 

 White ol bill contrasting with black of head; moves head back and forth when 



swimming il3-i6 in. J— AMERiCA.N COOT 



2. Not generally black but with conspicuous black (dark) head markings 



a. Head solid black (real or apparent) 



While collar; breist chestnut; blue in wing (20-25 in.) — MALLARD 



Breast pure white; back white with dark area down middle; bill broad at 



tip (17-21 in.)— SHOVELLER 

 Bill blue; black head, neck, and upper breast; back whitish (15-16 in.) — SCAUP 

 Back and breast black; white mark in front of wing; bill bluish-gray with 



whitish band at base and near tip (15-18 in.)— RING-NECKED DUCK 

 Long, slender, hooked, red bill; most of wings and under parts white; upper 



back black (21-27 in.)— COMMON MERGANSER 



b. With black (dark) markings but head not solid black 



Head and neck bl?ck; white bib extending up on cheeks; large bird (23-42 in.) 



—CANADA GOOSE 

 Head dark brown (may appear black); long, slender neck; long, pointed central 



tail feathers (26-30 in.)— PINTAIL 

 Crested; two narrow white lines on side of head; white bib (18-20 in.) — 



WOOD DUCK 

 Black on throat; arching neck; narrow, snake-like head; expert diver; bill 



crossed by black band (12-15 in.)— PIED-BILLED GREBE 

 Size small (7-8 in.); top of head and bar back of eye dusky; back streaked 



with black and white — WINTER-PLUMAGED ADULT or IMMATURE 



NORTHERN PHALAROPE 

 Size small (8-10 in.); top of head and bar back of eve dusky; upper parts ash- 



gray-WTNTER-PLUMAGED ADULT or IMMATURE WILSON'S PHAL- 



AROPE 



B. Generally While or With Co.Tapicuous White (Light) Markings 



1. Generally white (light) 



Primaries black; larije bill with conspicuous yellow pouch, orange at base (5 ft.) — 

 WHITE PELICAN 



2. Not generally white but with conspicuous white on head 



White bib extending up on cheeks; remainder of head and neck black; large bird 

 (23-42 in.)— CANADA GOOSE 



Broad white crown-patch; white flanks contrasting with black stern (18-22 in.) — 

 BALDPATE 



Broad white crescent in front of eye; large blue area in wing (14-16 in.) — BLUE- 

 WINGED TE.AL 



Two narrow white lines on side of head; white bib; upper breast reddish-brown 

 (18-20 in.)— WOOD DUCK 



White cheeks: top of head black: general rusty color (13-16 in.)— RUDDY DUCK 



C. Birds with Conspicuous Rusty, Reddish-brown, or Cinnamon Markings 



1. Entire bird chiefly rusty or reddish-brown 



Bill blue: cheeks white; top of head black; tail often held erect (13-16 in.) — 



RUDDY DUCK 

 Head and neck dark cinnamon; wings brown with large patch of blue (15-17 in.) — 



CINNAMON TEAL 



2. Not generally rustv; reddish-brown color restricted to head, neck, or both 



Head and neck reddish-brown; back and sides apparently white; long sloping fore- 

 head (20-23 in.)— CANVAS-BACK DUCK 



Crested: throat white: bill loni?. slender, hooked (21-27 in.)— FEMALE or IM- 

 MATURE COMMON MERGANSER 



Size small (7-8 in): whirling habit; head sootv; sides of neck rusty; eye-ring white 

 —FEMALE NORTHERN PHALAROPE 



Size small (8-10 in.); top of head and strioe down neck ash-<?rav: rich chestnut 

 on lower neck; whirling habit— FEMALE WILSON'S PHALAROPE 



