CINNAMON TEAL 



125 



Fig. 14. 



21739 



Side of bill of female Cinnamon Teal. 

 Natural size. 



The chestnut color of the lower surface serves to easily distinguish 

 the male Cinnamon Teal from all other ducks (pi. 4). The females 

 and young closely resemble those of the eastern Blue-winged Teal. 

 The heavier speckling on the head and chin, the strong suffusion of 

 rusty or cinnamon on the 

 breast, and the U-shaped 

 markings of pale rusty 

 brown are never present 

 in the Blue-winged Teal. 

 Close examination of the 

 bills will show that of 

 the Blue-wing to be smal- 

 ler, although relatively 

 broader at the base (figs. 

 15 and 16). From the Green-winged Teal the Cinnamon Teal may be 

 distinguished in hand by the larger size of the latter, longer bill and 

 neck, darker color, presence of blue on forepart of wing and, in flight, 



by the last named character and 



also by the less rapid beating of 

 the wings. 



The Cinnamon Teal must be 

 considered the commonest breeding 

 duck as regards the whole of Cali- 

 fornia, although the Pintail or Mal- 

 lard may possibly outnumber it in 

 certain Icfcalities. In southern Cali- 

 fornia there is hardly a ranch of 

 any size offering suitable conditions 

 where a pair or more of these birds 

 is not to be observed at the proper 

 season. It is the Cinnamon Teal 

 which is the usual duck found nest- 

 ing in the marshes of the San Joa- 

 quin and Sacramento valleys. The 

 artificial ponds in the form of reservoirs, found so commonly through- 

 out the state, often furnish a home for it. 



In California the nesting season of the Cinnamon Teal extends 

 from April into July. The bulk of the nesting occurs in May and 

 June, chiefly the former month. There is no difference in time of 

 nesting correlative with latitude, but nesting at high altitudes occurs 

 later than in the lowlands. The accompanying table (no. 10) gives all 

 the data known to the authors relative to the nesting of the species 

 in California. 



While Cinnamon Teal have been found nesting in such widely 



21735 



rig. 15. Cinnamon Teal. 



1647 HJa 



Fig. 16. Blue-winged Teal. 

 Tops of bills. Both females, na- 

 tural size. The differences in 

 outline shown will serve to 

 separate the two species when 

 coloration fails. 



