The Blue-winged Teal 



light brownish. Young: "Similar to adult female, but whole belly immaculate, and 

 speculum dull grayish brown without metallic gloss" (Ridgw.). Length 368.3-406.4 

 (14.50-16.00); av. of six males: wing 186.4 (7-34); tail 66 (2.60); bill 40.6 (1.60); tarsus 

 30.5 (1.20). 



Recognition Marks. — "Teal" size; white facial crescent of male; grayish blue 

 wing-coverts distinctive (except from Q. c. cyanoptera, which is otherwise quite different). 



Nesting. — Nest: Of grasses, etc., lined with down; on the ground usually near 

 fresh water. Eggs: 6 to 12; pale creamy or dull ivory-yellow with a tinge of green. 

 Av. size 45.7 x 32.5 (1.80 x 1.28). Season: c. June 1st; one brood. 



General Range. — North and South America. Breeds from British Columbia, 

 Great Slave Lake, Ungava, and Newfoundland, south sparingly to New England and 

 the northern tier of eastern states, southern Indiana, Missouri, northern New Mexico, 

 and northeastern California. Winters from British Columbia, southern Illinois, and 

 Delaware south to West Indies, and in South America to Chile and Brazil. 



Occurrence in California. — Not common migrant and winter visitor. The 

 "fall" migrations occur very early and so escape the notice of sportsmen; e. g., Santa 

 Barbara, Aug. 25, 1915, flock of 20. Sparingly resident in summer east of the Sierra 

 Nevada (Laws, northern Inyo County, May 21, 1919 — unquestionably breeding). 



Authorities. — Belding, Zoe, vol. iii., 1891, p. 97 (Stockton, San Diego, and 

 Agua Caliente) ; Willett, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 7, 1912, p. 23 (occurrence in s. Calif.) ; 

 Dawson, Condor, vol. xviii., 1916, p. 24 (Santa Barbara). 



THE PRESENCE of this species, justly accounted one of the rarer 

 ducks of California, upon Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park, in November, 

 1910, served to emphasize the fact that opportunity with the birds, and 

 especially with water-birds, is purely a matter of the degree of protection 

 afforded them. If protection were absolute, so that the birds did not 

 even have to fear clubs in treacherous hands, nine-tenths of our wild 

 ducks could be taught to eat out of our fingers within three years. If you 

 are skeptical, visit Stow Lake, in the heart of San Francisco. 



Stow "Lake" is little better than a wide canal surrounding a circular 

 hill. In the two widest places, certain portions toward the outer shore 

 are fenced off and forbidden to boats. A tiny wooded island in each in- 

 stance gives shelter to the shyest birds, which lurk under the overhanging 

 draperies. Boats are allowed on the remainder of the lake's surface, and 

 the ubiquitous small boy throws stones as usual, but in spite of these 

 little disadvantages the birds thrive mightily. There are swans on the 

 lake, and geese of five varieties, of which four, viz., Hutchins, Cackling, 

 American White-fronted, and the Lesser Snow Goose, are of wild stock. 

 These are all, I suppose, wing-tipped birds, and they act in a measure as 

 decoys. There is no doubt, however, of the feral character of the rest of 

 the bird population. Ducks are constantly arriving from the ocean a 

 mile or so away, while others, resenting the near approach of pleasure 

 boats to which they are not yet quite accustomed, make off in alarm. 



1770 



