124 GAME BIMDS OF CALIFOBNIA 



head dark olive; sides of head, chin and throat, yellowish buff; stripe from 

 base of bill near nostril to eye and two streaks back of eye, dark brown; upper 

 surface of body dark olive; spot on each side of back and one on each side at 

 base of tail, yellow; whole under surface yellowish buff. 



Marks fob field identipication — Small size (but large for a teal), and 

 large blue patch on wing in front of green or blackish speculum. Male dis- 

 tinguished from all other ducks by rich chestnut brown body color (pi. 4). 

 Female and young can only be separated from those of Blue-winged Teal in 

 hand and then only with difficulty; the Cinnamon has head and chin more 

 speckled, and distinct diffusion of light cinnamon brown and U-shaped markings 

 on breast. 



Voice — Similar to that of other teal; a miniature "quack," given by the 

 female. 



Nest — Situated in grassy fields or among tules, sometimes above shallow 

 water but more often above damp ground, at times some little distance from 

 water; made of grasses or tules compactly woven together and deeply saucer- 

 shaped. 



Eggs — 6 to 13, ovate or elongate ovate in shape; measuring in inches 1.73 to 

 2.09 by 1.18 to 1.38 (in millimeters, 44.0 to 53.0 by 30.0 to 35.0), and averaging 

 1.87 by 1.36 (47.5 by 34.5) (seventy eggs in TJ. S. National Museum) ; in color 

 creamy white or pale buff. 



General distribution — North and South America. Breeds in North America 

 from southern British Columbia, southwestern Alberta, southeastern Wyoming, 

 and western Kansas south to northern Lower California, northern Chihuahua, 

 southern New Mexico, and southwestern Texas; winters from southern Cali- 

 fornia, central New Mexico, and southern Texas south to southern Lower 

 California and central Mexico. Occurs in South America from Peru ami Brazil 

 south to the Falkland Islands (modified from A. O. V. Check-list, 1910, p. 71). 



Distribution in California — Abundant spring, summer and fall visitant 

 throughout the state, breeding throughout its summer range; restricted to the 

 vicinity of fresh water. Scattered individuals winter in the central and 

 southern portions of the state, the following definite instances of occurrence 

 being known: Vallejo, Solano County (Kobbe in Bailey, 1902, p. xlix) ; Los 

 Banos, Merced County, November to February, inclusive, 1911-1912 (twelve 

 specimens in Mus. Vert. Zool.) ; Eiverdale, Fresno County, January 10, 1912, 

 a dozen (Tyler, 19136, p. 16) ; Tulare Lake, Kings County (Cooke, 1906, p. 35) ; 

 Newport Slough, Orange County, December and January, 1884 (Belding, MS) ; 

 and near Salton Sea, Imperial County, December 16, 1910, one (Van Eossem, 

 1911, p. 130). The spring migration begins about the first of March and the 

 southward movement commences in September, the breeding grounds being 

 almost deserted by mid-October (Cooke, loe. cit.). 



The bright coloration of this duck has attracted much popular 

 attention and has been the basis for its several vernacular names. 

 The chestnut or cinnamon color of the under surface has given rise 

 to its accepted vernacular name, Cinnamon Teal, also a common 

 hunter's name, Red-breasted Teal; while the large patch of blue on 

 the wing is responsible for its being called Blue-winged Teal. Use of 

 the latter name, however, is confusing, as a related bird abundant in 

 eastern North America, and even reaching California, has proper 

 claim to this name (see preceding account). 



