64 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER {Mergus serrator). 



Common or local New England names: Sheldrake; Spring-sheldrake; Shelduck; Shell- 

 bird ; Sea Robin ; Long Island Sheldrake. 



Female. 



Male. 



Length. — 22 to about 24 inches. 



Adult Male. — Head dark green (appearing black at a distance) ; long crest 

 on hind head; a broad white ring around neck; upper back black, 

 lower back gray; tail grayish brown; wing mainly white, crossed by 

 two black bars; a patch of white black-bordered feathers in front of 

 wing; flanks barred with fine wavy lines of black; lower neck and 

 upper breast buff or pale cinnamon, streaked with black; below white; 

 iris, bill, legs and feet red. 



Adult Female and Young. — Smaller; throat white; rest of head and most 

 of neck, with a crest on hind head, reddish brown; back and tail slate 

 gray; wings darker, when spread showing a white patch; in closed 

 wing this patch is divided by a black bar and bordered by another in 

 front; below white; bill, legs and feet reddish. 



Field Marks. — The streaked buff breast and the long loose crest on the 

 green head distinguish the male. The female has less white on throat 

 and fore neck than the female of the American Merganser; also, more 

 reddish brown on sides of neck, a double crest and a divided white wing 

 patch. Difficult to identify at a distance. 



Notes. — When alarmed, several low, guttural croaks (Elliot). 



Nest. — Of leaves, grasses, mosses, etc., lined with down, on the ground, 

 near water, among rocks or scrubby bushes. 



Eggs. — Six to twelve, creamy buff, 2.55 by 1.75. 



Season. — Late September to late May; rare in summer. 



