82 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
in April 1892. Mr. Herrick believes that females are also taken occasion- 
ally, but owing to their close resemblance to the female of the Baldpate 
they are not recognized. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
The adult male agrees with the Baldpate in having the “forehead and fore part 
of crown, posterior half of middle wing-covert region, and belly, plain white; speculum 
metallic green anteriorly, velvety black posteriorly; crop plain vinaceous; sides, flanks 
seapulars, and back, delicately waved with dusky upon a paler ground; under tail-coverts 
plain black.” In addition the adult male in winter and spring has “ Head and upper neck 
plain rufous, the forehead varying from white to ochraceous; crop and sides of breast 
vinaceous; sides, flanks, and whole back white, waved with blackish” (Ridgway). Fe- 
males, males after the breeding season, and young of both sexes are likely to be mistaken 
for similar sexes and ages of the Baldpate, and can be positively identified only by the 
expert who has proper material for comparison. 
Length, 18 to 20 inches; wing, 10 to 11; culmen, 1.35 to 1.45. 
37. Baldpate. Mareca americana (Gmel.). (137) 
Synonyms: Widgeon, American Widgeon, Green-headed Widgeon, Bald Widgeon, 
Poacher.—Anas americana, Gmel., 1789, and many authors.—Mareca americana, Steph., 
1824, and authors generally. 
Figure 17. 
Adult male recognizable most easily by the large amount of white on 
the wings (most of the coverts), the green speculum bordered behind by 
velvet black, and the broad patch of metallic green on the side of the 
head behind the eye. ; 
Distribution.—North America, from the Arctic Ocean south, in winter 
to Guatemala and Cuba. Breeds chiefly north of the United States, and 
west of the Mississippi. 
Apparently not a common duck in this state. It is found sparingly 
during migration, but we find no evidence that it nests here. Probably 
it never winters within our . 
limits, but arrives from the RE 0, 
south late in March and passes ; 
north of our boundaries during 
April, returning late in Septem- 
ber and lingering until Novem- 
ber, or even December. It is 
usually found in small flocks, 
a dozen or less, but associates 
freely with other species and 
has earned the name of Poacher 
by its habit of keeping with the 
Canvasbacks and Redheads 
when they are feeding in deep “Fig. 17. Baldpate. 
anaidera ble eat oe the cect Waited Sates Gfoughton, Bifiin £005 
lent grasses, waterweeds and roots which they bring to the surface. ‘It is 
particularly wary and suspicious, and much disliked by gunners because it 
not only protects itself but gives the alarm to less watchful ducks of 
other species. It does not decoy readily, does not dive except when 
wounded, and when travelling usually flies in “company front” instead 
of single file. 
