48 



DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS OF NORTH AMEKICA. 



Subgenus QUERQUEDULA Stephens. 

 ANAS DISCORS Linn. 



Blue=winged Teal. 



ACIuU male : Head, graj' with piirplisli gloss, darkest on top ; a white patch resembling a 

 crescent in front of the eye; greater aud middle wing coverts, pale grayish blue, forming a 

 grayish blue patch on the wing; specuhmi, rich green; under jjai'ts, purplish gray, spotted 

 on the breast with black; tlie flanks are narrowly barreil with black; bill, black; feet, yellow. 



(Male.) 



Anns iliscors 



I FeniaU'.) 



Adult femiilc : Showing a blue i^ateh on the shoulder which distinguishes it from other 

 Teals, except the female of .Inas ci/anjijitera, which has the cliin dusky ; and the upijer throat 

 often tinged with rufous. The locality wliere it is taken should also be considered. 



This well-known species ranges tiirouohout Nortii America, breeding cliicfly 

 north of the United States. It is very common in Eastern United States 

 during migrations, and rather rare west of the Rocky mountains, although it 

 (jccasionally occurs on the Pacific coast. In winter it ranges to the West 

 Indies and northern South America, and is common in Florida. The eggs are 

 pale Ijuff, usually from eight to twehe in numlier. The male whistles, and 

 the female "quacks." 



