DS: 
Cormay Woeag 
WATER 18S, fag 79 
onl 
CF 
Distribution.—Eastern North America, west to the Mississippi Valley, 
abe to Labrador, breeding southward to the northern parts of the United 
ates. 
The Black Duck is similar in appearance and voice to the common 
Mallard, for the female of which it is sometimes mistaken. It is not 
uncommon throughout the state during the migrations, and doubtless 
formerly bred in suitable places everywhere. 
It arrives from the south from three weeks to a month later than the 
Mallard, an average date for the southern counties being not far from 
April 10th. On the other hand its autumnal movement southward does 
not begin until late in September, and numbers linger until after most of 
the Mallards have gone. According to Swales it is occasionally found at 
St. Clair Flats in winter, although very likely these birds may prove to 
belong to the more northern form, the Red-legged Duck. At present it 
seems to be only a migrant in the southern part of the Lower Peninsula, 
but breeds sparingly throughout the remainder of the state. It is found 
commonly in large flocks, flies and feeds much after dark, and is considered 
just as good eating as the Mallard. The nest is placed on the ground not 
far from the water, built of grasses and similar coarse materials, and more 
or less heavily lined with down. The eggs are grayish white to greenish 
buff, and average 2.43 by 1.75 inches. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Resembles the Mallard in size and general appearance and might readily be mistaken 
for the female or young of the year of that species. The sexes, however, are alike, and in 
any plumage the Dusky Duck is always darker and less streaked than the Mallard. The 
general color is a rich dark brown, the feathers usually with lighter edgings. The lower 
back and rump are sometimes glossy black, but elsewhere the plumage is seldom darker 
than a clear brownish-black. The head is deep brownish-black on top more or less mixed 
with narrow streaks of ashy or brownish; the sides of the head, the throat, and the neck 
all around are buffy white finely streaked with fuscous. The distinguishing mark of the 
species is the speculum, which is deeper blue or violet-purple than in the Mallard, bordered 
in front and behind by black, sometimes with a narrow white bar behind the black, but 
none on the front édge. Bill greenish-black to olive-green; legs and feet brownish or 
sometimes tinged with reddish. Bee ; 
Length, 21 to 24.50 inches; wing,. 10.50 to 11,50; culmen, 2 to 2.35. 
oo £ we 5 : %s oo - a 
In the northern form, separated as a subspecies by Brewster in 1902 
under the name Red-legged Black Duck, the tarsi and toes are bright 
red and ‘the bill yellow; while such individuals average somewhat larger 
than. those*reared farther south. According to Mr. Brewster the Red- 
legged form.does.not appear in New England as a rule before the middle 
of October, his-earliest record with a single exception being. October 8. 
He is careful, however, to make it clear that by no means all the black 
ducks which: nest north of the United States belong to the Red-legged 
form, Mr. C. F. Batchelder having collected many examples of the smaller 
bird in Newfoundland in June and July. 
The colors of the bill and feet_change very quickly after death so that 
in museum specimens or dried skins the colors of these parts in the two 
forms are not noticeably different. Mr. Brewster, however, states that 
the two birds ‘are sufficiently unlike in respect to size and proportions, 
as well as in coloring, to be distinguished, under favorable conditions, at 
more than gunshot distance when flying, and when freshly killed and 
placed side by side they may be separated at a glance. The larger bird 
usually has the entire bill (excepting the nail) yellow, varying from chrome 
to canary or sulphur yellow, the legs and toes bright red, varying from 
ams 
