The Redhead- 

 be seen. It is certain that the establishment of breeding farms and pri- 

 vate preserves would go far to restore this very desirable bird. The 

 Wood Duck does well in semi-captivity; and where happy surroundings 

 can be assured, the breeding of Wood Ducks for parks and gardens is 

 highly commendable. 



No. 356 



Redhead 



A. O. U. No. 146. Marila americana (Eyton). 



Synonym. — American Pochard. 



Description. — Adult male: Angle between culmen and forehead abrupt; head 

 and upper-neck bright chestnut, glossed with reddish purple, most heavily on neck; 

 lower-neck and breast all around (i. e. including upper back) deep glossy brownish 

 black; belly white; rump, upper tail-coverts, and crissum sooty black; remaining 

 plumage, except wings, and including lower belly (in fact all above the "water line") 

 finely wavy-barred or vermiculated dusky and white in about equal proportions; wing- 

 coverts ashy gray speckled with white; speculum still lighter, — warm ashy gray, 

 tipped with white; axillars entirely and lining of wings chiefly white. Bill dull blue 

 with a black belt at tip; feet grayish blue, with black claws and dusky webs; iris orange. 

 Adult female: Much plainer; wing as in male; above and on breast and sides warm or 

 dull grayish brown, more or less tipped with buffy or fulvous, the feathers of back and 

 scapulars sometimes speckled with dusky and white on tips, according to season; 

 darker on back and crown, lighter on sides of head and neck, especially above bill, 

 lightening to buffy white on chin and throat; belly white; lower belly light grayish 

 brown; crissum grayish brown and white. Bill lighter than in male. Immature 

 male: Like adult female but darker; feathers near base of bill, on sides only, whitish; 

 speculum (always?) creamy white instead of ashy gray. Length 457.2-558.8 (18.00- 

 22.00); wing 227.6 (8.96); tail 63.5 (2.50); bill 45.7 (1.80); tarsus 39.6 (1.56). 



Recognition Marks. — Mallard size or smaller; chestnut head, black breast, 

 and "canvas" back and sides of male. See distinctions under next species. 



Nesting. — Nest: A sturdy basket of woven rushes, a foot or more in diameter 

 and 8 inches to a foot in depth, placed in dense, grassy cover of marsh, or lashed to 

 reeds over water. Down: Dull white. Eggs: 10 to 22 (greater numbers represent 

 the product of two birds) ; oval to elliptical; dull yellowish buff to dull yellowish glaucous 

 (hence not always distinguishable from those of Anas boschas). Av. size 62.2 x 43.7 

 (2.45 x 1.72); index 70. Season: April 20-June 10; one brood. 



General Range. — North America. Breeds in the West from, the southern 

 Canadian provinces south to southern California,' Utah, and the southern portions of 

 South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Winters' from British Columbia, Utah, 

 Kansas, and from Illinois east to Delaware, south to Florida, central Mexico, and 

 southern Lower California. Common on the Atlantic Coast during migrations. 

 Casual (?) in Alaska. 



Distribution in California. — Fairly common summer resident in suitable 

 localities throughout the State; more abundant during migrations; scarce or locally 

 wanting in winter. Found on both fresh and salt water. 



180O 



