RIVER DUCKS 



(137) Mareca americana 



(Gmel.) 



BALDPATE; WIDGEON. Ad. 

 c? — Plumage as shown. Bill gray- 

 ish-blue, with a black tip and dusky 

 base. Crown pure white; very broad, 

 metallic greenish stripe from the 

 eye to the nape; throat and face 

 buffy, specked with black. Ad. 9 

 — Differs from the 9 of the European 

 Widgeon by having the head and 

 throat white, streaked and barred 

 mth black, the wing coverts whiter 

 and the outer webs of the tertials 

 white. L., 20.00; W., 10.50; B., 1.50. 

 Young males may show any degree 

 of plumage between that of the cf 

 and 9. 



Range — Breeds from Ind., Colo, 

 and Ore, northward. Winters from 

 Md., (casually Mass.) 111. and B. C. 

 southward. 



on the ground, as is common with most ducks, but usually 

 on high ground under bushes and not necessarily near the 

 water. It is warmly lined with soft down, which is care- 

 fully drawn over to conceal the eggs when the female leaves. 



EUROPEAN WIDGEONS, although frequently taken in 

 this country, can only be regarded as stragglers. They are 

 not uncommon on the Aleutian Islands and breed there. It 

 is quite probable that most of these birds taken in various 

 parts of the United States are Alaskan ones that have come 

 south in company with some of our native ducks nesting in 

 the same localities, instead of taking their customary mi- 

 gratioh route to the southwest. 



In England, they are commonly called Whewers, because 

 of the shrill whisthng notes they utter when flying. Their 

 nesting habits do not differ froin those of the American 

 Widgeon. In winter they are abundant on inland lakes and 

 morasses and also on salt marshes. 



GREEN-WINGED TEAL share with BufHe-heads the 



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