BLACK DUCK 
69 
Weight 2 pounds 7 ounces to 2 pounds 15 ounces (1.10 to 1.33 kilograms) — the maximum weight 
recorded once by myself. Average of females taken late in autumn in extra-fine condition is some- 
times as high as 2 pounds 12 ounces (1.24 kilograms), but this is very unusual. A very remarkable 
specimen, weighed and sexed by Mr. W. S. Brooks in December, 1922 (Tuckernuck Island, 
Massachusetts), went to 3 pounds 4 ounces. 
First (Juvenal) Plumage, both Sexes: Legs and feet not so richly colored; lower surface more 
streaked; chin and throat not so heavily marked. Upper surface somewhat lighter colored, espe- 
cially on mantle, but not constantly so. Tail-feathers blunt. Sexes alike except for clear greenish 
bill in male, and mottled bill in female. The bill is always a distinguishing mark if examined im- 
mediately after the bird is shot. Color change often sets in within a few minutes and may soon 
obscure the sex differences. 
Young in Down : Same as Mallard. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Any attempt to define accurately the range of the present species is involved in much difficulty. 
This is caused by the failure of local observers to distinguish the present species from Anas fulvigula 
of Florida and Texas, and the recently described duck from New Mexico, Anas diazi novimexicana. 
The two races of Black Ducks, A. rubrifes rubripes and A. rubripes tristis, are here treated as one. 
Breeding Range 
Essentially an eastern species, the Black Duck nests not only in the northeastern United States 
and eastern Canada, but also west of James Bay and Lake Superior. In the South it is said that 
Black Ducks have nested at Narrows Isle and Currituck Club marshes. North Carolina Middle 
(G. B. Grinnell, in litt.), but in spite of repeated statements to this effect the most Atlantic 
recent writers on this district (Pearson, Brimley and Brimley, 1919) do not appear to States 
be convinced. At Pea Island, North Carolina, however, the species has evidently begun to breed 
in some numbers on an artificial pond. Many were seen in spring and in early August (1920), when 
some seven hundred to a thousand were counted there (Gould, in litt.), so that I feel certain of the 
evidence for this State. Besides this I have heard of others breeding on the west side of Pamlico 
Sound in Hyde County. In Virginia the species has bred in the coast regions at Wallop’s Isle, War- 
wick County, and on the James River (H. H. Bailey, 1913), as well as on Pope’s Isle (Whealton, in 
litt.). According to Cooke (1906) it has nested in Maryland at Ocean City and Barrow Springs. 
Whealton (in litt ) gives Middlemeer as another locality. It breeds rarely in Delaware (Cooke, 
1906; Rhoads and Pennock, 1905) and sparingly though regularly along the coast of New Jersey, 
from Ocean County to Cape May County (W. Stone, 1909; Harlow, 1918). Excepting on or near the 
coast, however, its breeding range probably does not extend south of 40° north latitude. 
Its westernmost occurrences as a breeding bird in the United States have been undetermined 
because of uncertain records for Nebraska and Kansas. In these States it was said to breed sporadi- 
cally, but the records, as well as several for Colorado, are probably to be referred to Middle 
Anas fulvigula or to the New Mexican Duck, rather than to stragglers of the present West 
species (Felger, 1910; W. L. Sclater, 1912). The same is very likely true of records for Utah and 
southeastern Wyoming, as reported by Brackett (1877). Recently Black Ducks, properly identi- 
fied, have been found in Walsh County, northeastern North Dakota, as late as April 10 (Oberholser, 
1918), and this State may yet be included in the breeding range. Reagan (1908) killed a specimen 
on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota, and one of Mr. Osier’s ducks, banded in Ontario, 
was taken near Hudson, South Dakota, October 21, 1921. They have been seen in northern Minne- 
