YELLOW-BILLED TEAL 
275 
and habits there is little to remind one of the Common Teal. When first seen in 
the field Mr. J. L. Peters (MS.) found it easy to confuse with the Brown Pintail. On 
the water it appears as a small dark-colored duck with prominent yellow bill, while 
on the wing it may be distinguished by its small size, short neck and “knoblike” 
head. 
Haunts. It frequents various types of country, both inland and coastal, and in 
Tierra del Fuego, Crawshay (1907) found it at low tide lurking in the pools among 
the rocks. The mouths of streams, no matter how small, were favorite haunts. In 
Hudson’s day it was to be found on every marsh, stream and pool on the pampas. 
He characterized it as rapid in flight, restless, lively, and extremely pugnacious 
(P. L. Sclater and Hudson, 1889). 
Wariness. It seems to be generally regarded as the tamest duck in the Argentine 
and the same holds true of the Falklands (Abbott, 1861 ; Crawshay, 1907). Speaking 
of the remarkable colony that nests with the parrots on his ranch near Cape San 
Antonio, E. Gibson (1920) says that they often occupy sites overhanging the prin- 
cipal paths, or in the immediate vicinity of the dwelling-house. They seem even to 
prefer these situations, he continues, “and it is at their own convenience and not 
from any movement of passersby that the birds leave their perch in the morning. . . . 
I have recorded more than one instance, when, on their return in the evening, a pair 
or more have passed low down over the heads of the tennis players, or through the 
'patio itself, quite members of the community.” 
Daily Movements. The Teal in the tree-nesting colony on Mr. Gibson’s place 
leave their perches in the morning, sometimes considerably after sunrise, and go off 
to their feeding grounds. This habit is perhaps characteristic only of birds in a per- 
fectly unmolested region. 
Swimming, Diving, Perching. So far as kn own this Teal never dives, but it 
perches freely, both during and after the breeding season. A colony that Dr. Wet- 
more saw, and of which he has written me, spent much time perching in the lofty 
branches of the eucalyptus trees, sometimes fifty feet high. C. H. B. Grant (1911) 
says they are usually seen in trees when not on the water. 
Flight. The flight is swift and agile, the birds twisting much when threading 
their way through the trees (C. H. B. Grant, 1911). In regard to flocks, Mr. Peters 
(MS.) found them in Rio Negro Province in small companies. P. L. Sclater and 
Hudson (1889) speak of flocks of twelve to twenty as the usual number. 
Association with other Species. Though sometimes found in separate flocks 
they are at other times seen mixed with flocks of Gray and Cinnamon Teal, while 
any flocks of non-breeding ducks are apt to contain a few of this species (Peters, MS.). 
