42 Birds of Colorado 
black centrally, pale buffy laterally ; speculum bright green, bordered 
in front by buffy, below by black and behind with a little white; a 
white patch on the sides of the breast; iris brown, bill black, feet 
dusky. Length 14:0; wing 7:5; tail 2-75; culmen 1-5; tarsus 1-20. 
The female has no crest and the speculum is less perfect ; the head 
and neck are streaked with dark and tawny-brown, the throat and 
lower-parts are white and the back, sides and breast dusky, 
scolloped and mottled with buff. 
Distribution.—Breeding from New Brunswick along the northern 
tier of states to Oregon, northwards to the Barren Grounds of Alaska, 
and south along the mountains to New Mexico ; in winter south to the 
south-western United States, Mexico to Mexico City and the West 
Indies. 
The Green-winged Teal is one of the commonest of the migrating 
Ducks in Colorado, and is also a resident. It is one of the earliest to 
arrive, reaching Fort Lyon February 20th to March 8rd, Loveland 
February 2Ist, and Salida March 27th (Frey). It is common on the 
Arkansas near Pueblo in April and September (Beckham), and has 
been observed as high as Breckenridge on migration by Carter, and 
at Crested Butte by Warren. 
On the western slope it is the commonest Duck at Coventry on 
migration only (Warren) and also in Mesa co. (Rockwell). It has 
been found nesting at San Luis Lakes by Henshaw and is stated to 
be a common summer resident in Estes Park by Kellogg, and at Barr 
by Hersey and Rockwell, where it is also not uncommon in winter. 
Habits.—‘‘ This handsome little duck,’”’ writes Goss, 
“is usually found in small flocks along the edges of 
shallow, grassy waters, feeding largely on seeds, aquatic 
plants and insects; they fatten very fast in the rice- 
fields, and are very fond of acorns. In exposed situations 
they feed largely at night, resting by day on bare spots 
surrounded and hidden by reeds. They are perhaps 
the best-tasting of our ducks.” 
Henshaw found this species nesting at San Luis Lakes, 
on June 24th; the nest was placed under a sage bush 
thirty feet from the water; it consisted of a hollow in 
the sand, lined with grasses, and down plucked from the 
parent-birds’ breast. The eggs were pale yellow and 
measured 1:80 x 1:30. The usual complement is 9 to 12, 
but as many as eighteen have been found. 
