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ANAS RUBRIPES 
GEOGRAPHICAL RACES 
RED-LEGGED BLACK DUCK 
ANAS RUBRIPES RUBRIPES Brewster 
Anas obscura rubripes Brewster, Auk, vol. 19, p. 183, 1902; Swenk, Auk, vol. 22, p. 319, 1905; 
Townsend, Mem. Nuttall Ornith. Club, no. 3, p. 126, 1905; Townsend, Auk, vol. 29, p. 176, 
1912; Auk, vol. 33, p. 9, 1916; Oberholser, Auk, vol. 34, p. 192, 1917; Auk, vol. 35, pp. 
203, 350, 1918; Phillips, Auk, vol. 37, p. 289, 1920. 
Anas rubripes Dwight, Auk, vol. 26, p. 422, 1909; Phillips, Auk, vol. 28, p. 191, 1911. 
Subspecific Chabacters; Size larger or at least having heavier appearance, with the head grayer. 
Plumage denser. Feathers of pileum usually more edged with grayish or tawny color; throat more 
spotted or streaked with blackish or very dark brown, the dark markings on the sides of the head 
larger, more sharply defined and blacker; bill bright yellow, tarsi and toes bright red or coral red, 
the colors of soft parts brighter in the male. 
Range: Breeds from south end of Lake Winnipeg and James Bay, to {lerhaps as far north as Fort 
Churchill (?); south to southern James Bay and Lake Superior, and eastward for an undetermined 
distance. In winter south to Arkansas, southern Texas, Louisiana and Alabama, and southeastward 
through the Great Lakes and New England to the whole Atlantic coast as far as northern Florida. 
N<Ae: The long controversy as to the validity of this race now seems to be over, but much more 
material is necessary to establish the eastern breeding limits of this form. It must also be borne in 
mind that intermediates are very numerous, possibly more numerous than typical examples of both 
races. It is very probable that extremes are found breeding west of James and Hudson Bay only. 
A specimen from Ungava Bay which I examined is not a typical “Red-leg.” The description is diffi- 
cult, but the general appearance of a typical bird of this race, freshly killed, is unmistakable. Fe- 
males and young are not so easy to distinguish. The question of distinguishing these two races is 
much complicated by the differential sex migrations, the old males coming south later in both 
forms, thus giving the impression that all old males belong to the Red-legged race. Out of 224 
shot at Martha’s Vineyard from September to December, 1919, not one single typical rubripes 
was found, for these were from a group of local ducks of the tristis race held over from migrating 
by consistent baiting. The location was away from salt-marshes and out of the winter range of 
Anas rubripes rubripes (Phillips, 1920a). 
This “Red-legged” race outnumbers the eastern one, and appears to be on the increase, extending 
its range westward. It migrates later, is shyer, hardier, more localized about salt-marshes in winter, 
and more nocturnal. 
GREEN-LEGGED BLACK DUCK 
ANAS RUBRIPES TRISTIS Brewster 
Anas obscura of authors. 
Anas rubripes tristis Brewster, Auk, vol. 26, p. 176, 1909; Oberholser, Auk, vol. 34, p. 194, 1917. 
SuBSPECiFic Characters: Size slightly smaller. Plumage not so thick and long; feathers of pileum 
not conspicuously edged with lighter shades; chin and throat with very few dark markings, or none 
at all; dark markings on face and neck smaller, narrower and not so black. Bill olive to greenish 
black, sometimes more or less of an orange tinge, but never bright, clear yellow'; legs and toes dusky 
