84 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
been much disturbed they feed freely at night, resting during the day 
on open stretches of water where they are comparatively safe. They dive 
readily when necessity requires it, but seldom in search of food, the larger 
part of their food being found in shallow water, along shore or on the 
marshes and mud flats. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult male with chin dusky or black, a large patch of metallic green on each side of 
head including the eye and extending back to the nape where the two patches join and 
the feathers are elongated into a crest; rest of head, upper throat, and neck bright cinnamon 
brown. Sides and upper back finely vermiculated with black and white; breast pinkish- 
brown (vinaceous) spotted with black; a conspicuous white bar or crescent on the side of the 
breast just in front of the bend of the wing; under tail-coverts buffy white at the sides, 
black in the middle. Speculum metallic green and velvet black in about equal parts, 
margined in front with clear pale brown and behind with pure white. Adult female 
similar only as to wings. The rest of the bird mainly slaty brown above, many of the 
feathers with ashy margins, the brown darkest on top of the head; the breast and sides 
buffy white, each feather with a large spot of brown; the chin, belly, and lower tail-coverts, 
white and unspotted; sides of breast and neck finely streaked with dusky-brown on a 
nearly white ground color. Young of the year resemble the female. 
Length 12.50 to 15 inches; wing 6.25 to 7.40; culmen 1.40 to 1.60. 
39. Blue-winged Teal. Querquedula discors (Linn.). (140) 
Synonyms: Blue-wing, Summer Teal—Anas discors, Linn., 1766.—Cyanopterus 
discors, Eyt., 1838.—Pterocyanea discors, Bonap., 1856.—Querquedula discors of authors 
generally. 
The adult male is instantly recognized by the large pure white crescent 
(like a new moon) on each side of the head between the eye and bill; adults 
of either sex have most of the shoulder (lesser wing-coverts and scapulars) 
light blue; the small size separates it from anything but the Green-winged 
Teal. 
Distribution.—North America in general, but chiefly eastward; north 
to Alaska, and south to the West Indies, Lower California, and northern 
South America. Casual in California. Breeds from Kansas and southern 
Illinois northward. 
Probably the Blue-winged Teal is the most abundant summer duck 
found in Michigan and formerly it bred commonly all over the state. 
It still breeds in suitable localities, but much less frequently than formerly. 
It is later in arriving in spring than most of our ducks, seldom reaching 
the southern counties before the first of April, while it is one of the earliest 
of all to move southward in autumn, the movement beginning by Septem 
ber 1 and being practically competed during that month. Its abundance, 
the ease with which it decoys, and its good table qualities insure constant 
persecution during the open season. 
While with us it shows a marked preference for marshes, grassy ponds 
and sluggish streams, and is particularly partial to regions where wild 
rice (Zizania) grows. It is rarely seen singly or in pairs, but almost always 
in flocks of a dozen or more, sometimes more than fifty being found together. 
It is neither shy nor suspicious and hence is more frequently bagged by 
the amateur than any other duck. 
The nest, placed on the ground in meadows or prairies, is formed of 
grass and lined with down. The eggs are from eight to twelve, white or 
buffy white, and average 1.84 by 1.34 inches. 
Our nesting records are Hillsdale (Munson); mouth of Kalamazoo 
