BIRDS OP FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA. 13 



in Northern Dakota and Montana along the banks of the streams and 

 pools. Regarding its breeding in this county, no data is at hand, but spec- 

 imens are frequently taken during the fall migration by local gunners. 



Distinguishing features: Male with head and neck dingy white 

 speckled with black, except a bar of metallic green extending from the eye 

 backward; upper and lower parts generally marked with waves of black: 

 length 18-22 inches. Female with darker colors, more brownish and gray- 

 ish. 



139. GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Nettion carolinensis. 



A very common migrant, appearing from the north toward the end 

 of August, and lingering until severe weather in late fall. On Dec. 5, 

 1902, during freezing weather, specimens of green-winged teal were taken 

 near Deerfield, and it appears that some of these ducks remain with us 

 all winter. It is likely that occasional pairs of this teal breed along the 

 Missouri borders of the county, but no records of such nesting are at hand. 



Distinguishing features: Speculum of wing bright metallic green, 

 bordered below by black tipped with white; length 12-15 inches. Female 

 somewhat like male, colors darker and less prominent. 



140. BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Querquedula discors. 



A very common migrant, and doubtless an occasional breeder at 

 suitable places in the county and along the Missouri and Musselshell bor- 

 ders. The blue-winged teal appears in its southern migration about the 

 first of September, and is noted regularly till severe weather of the late 

 fall. 



Distinguishing features: The light blue markings of the lesser wing- 

 coverts, speculum dark green; length 14-16 inches. 



142. SHOVELLER. Spatula clypeata. 



Occurs regularly along Big Spring Creek in the migrations. Dr. 

 Coues says that this species is common through the summer in Montana, 

 along the Milk River and its tributaries. It has been taken near Lewis- 

 town in the early part of October. 



Distinguishing features: Bill spoon-shaped, or narrow at base and 

 broad at end; male with head and neck dark green, chest white, lower 

 parts chestnut; wing-coverts light blue tipped with white, speculum bright 

 green bordered below with white; length 17-21 inches. Female with wing 

 like the male, other colors less prominent. 



143. PINTAIL. Dafila acuta. 



A very common migrant near Lewistown. Like most of the ducks 

 mentioned as belonging to this region, the pintail is reported as breeding in 

 the Milk River district of Montana. 



Distinguishing features: Male with head and neck brown, shoulders 

 black bordered with white, speculum varying metallic green and purpte 

 bordered below with black tipped with' white, wing-coverts with a bar of 

 reddish-brown; length 25-30 inches. Female smaller, with colors less con- 

 spicuous, wing much like male. . . . ; 



146. REDHEAD. Aythya americana. 



Not uncommon as a migrant, though observations along the larger 



