250



Notes on the Blue-wing Teal.



one should have a pond for Teal and Teal alone, and on it I

would have 1 Blue-wing Teal, 2 Cinnamon Teal, 3 Bing-necked

Teal, 4 Common Teal, 5 Versicolor Teal, 6 American Green-wing

Teal, 7 Chili Teal and Cotton Teal if you can get them. I

would exclude without doubt any of the larger variety of Teal,

such as Brazil Teal who are nasty cross birds in breeding time.

I am certain that the mixture of large surface feeding ducks and

small ones is a mistake at nesting-time, and only tends to upset the

peace of the pond (unless very large) and reduces the breeding

chances. I have included Chili Teal in my list of nice Teal, but

at the same time they are the worst tempered of all the Teal in

spring time; however, they are small birds.


The plumage of female Blue-wing is dull always and is very

similar to the Cinnamon female. The male, on the other hand,

w hen he is in full plumage, is one of the most lovely of all the

Teal who have an eclipse plumage. In full Spring dress his head is

a sort of “ plumbaceous ” grey : a good broad white crescent in front

of eyes ; breast and flanks speckled reddish buff, a sort of pink-red

colour; pale blue wing-coverts ; back darkish-brown, a very white

patch on each side of tail; the bill is lead black, and feet and legs

a yellowish colour.


In courting, the male raises his head up and down, at much

the same angle as a Shoveller, and gives a sort of tliree-note call, but

only when swimming with or near the female, who responds by a

bob of the head or a hoarse croak.


About the middle of June, the male starts to go into a

complete moult of plumage, and it comes on very fast. Quoting

from notes made in 1913 :—


On June 16.—Still full plumage.


„ 20.—Started on flanks and by white tail spots.


J} 26.—Fast change on flanks and breast.


n 29.—White tail patch now half brown and large brown


mottled feathers in flanks and the usual white

crescent on head now dusky white ; sides of head now

dull brown ; black under tail now brown colour.


On July 4.—Change complete ; hard to distinguish male from female

at first sight. No call.



