19S GAME BIEDS OF CALIFOJRMA 



Voice — Xoue. so far as definitely known; said to utter a low quack (Maokav, 

 ISOlb. p. 2S4). 



Xest — On ground concealed by shrubs, and usually near fresli water; con- 

 structed of "rubbish" and down (Bent, 190-, p. 171), 



Eggs — 6 to 14. ovate in shape, measuring in inches 2,60 to 2. SO by 1.69 to 

 l.So (in millimeteis, 66.0 to 72.5 by 43.0 to 47. 0"), and averaging 2.72 by l.Sl 

 (69.0 by 46.0) (twenty-one eggs in U. S. National Museum) ; color pale salmon 

 buff or flesh-color (Bent, loc. cit.). 



General distribution — North America and eastern Asia. Breeds from 

 northeastern Siberia along Arctic coast of America to northern X'ngava, and 

 south to central British Columbia, northern North Dakota and southern Quebec; 

 winters on shores of raoilic Ocean from Aleutiaji Islands south to China and 

 to southern Lower California, in the interior on Great Lakes, and on Atlantic 

 coast from Gulf of St. Lawrence south to Florida (rarely). Non-breeding 

 birds summer as far south as Rhode Island and southern California (modified 

 from A. O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. SI). 



Distribution in California — Common winter visitant alone entire seacoast. 

 Restricted to salt water. Arrives in September and October and leaves in 

 latter part of April. Non-breeders often remain here throughout the summer 

 months, and have been recorded as far south as San iliguol Island (^Willott, 

 1910, p. 173) and Santa Barbara (Torrey, 19106, p. 204). 



The "White-winged Scoter or Velvet Duek is an abundant winter 

 visitant along the whole coast of California. It has a wide general 

 winter range on the Pacific coast as it is found from the Aleutian 

 Islands south to Lower California. In California it occurs in greatest 

 nuAibers on San Francisco and Monterej^ baj-s and on the waters 

 about the Santa Barbara Islands, but small numbers are to be found 

 in almost everj' little coastal bay. While called winter visitants these 

 birds arrive here as early as the last of August and renxain until the 

 end of April, and some individuals even remain throughout the sum- 

 mer. These latter are non-breeders and most of them are thoujiht to 

 be immatures, less than two years old. 



The birds which winter in California probably come from two 

 breeding centers, in Alaska and in central Canada. In the latter case 

 the migration, which is thought to take place at night, must have a 

 decidedly westward trend and extend over land for a considerable 

 distance. 



Among the big sea ducks the White-winged Scoter is the oi\l\- one 

 exhibiting a white speculum. This distinctive character shows well 

 in flight or when the birds are at rest on the water and is ]H\sscssed by 

 all ages and both sexes. In the adult male the otherwise wholly black 

 plumage, relieved only by a small white patch below the eye, is an 

 additional character. At close range the bill is seen to be swollen 

 at the upper base and the feathers extend forward on the sides of 

 the upper mandible almost to the nostrils. 



While th(> White-winged Scoter is a salt water species during the 



