The American Golden-eye 



between northern Minnesota or Dakota and Athabasca Lake. A second- 

 ary breeding range occurs in the Upper Sonoran trough between the 

 Sierro-Cascade and Rocky Mountain System. From the former area the 

 birds retire in winter to the Gulf Coast, where they are rated locally as 

 the most abundant duck. From the intra-mountain area the birds, pre- 

 sumably, retreat to the lakes of Mexico, leaving only a tithe of their 

 very modest numbers to cross the low divides of northeastern California 

 in a normal southerly direction. 



The Ring-necked Duck bears a general resemblance to the Lesser 

 Scaup, with which also it occasionally mingles. 



Unlike the Scaup, it is never seen in large flocks, seldom in companies 

 of above a dozen or twenty individuals, and single birds are more fre- 

 quently encountered than in the case of any other species. The bird 

 shuns the open water, so much frequented by Blue-bills, and is seldom or 

 never seen on salt water, not even on the tide-water marshes. In flight 

 the individuals of a flock scatter widely, and they are likely to become 

 still further separated as they feed in the rushes and deeper growth of the 

 swamps and interior lakes. Here they subsist upon crayfish, snails, 

 frogs, insects, and the various sorts of seeds which drop into the water 

 from overhanging vegetation. 



When surprised, the Ring-neck rises upon softly whistling wings, and 

 beats a rapid retreat, while you notice the loose occipital feathers, ruffled 

 by fear into a bushy crest, and observe that there is no white on the head, 

 to cause confusion with other crested species. 



Of the possible breeding of the bird within the confines of this State, 

 we have only the brief statement 1 of Mr. Harry H. Sheldon, who visited 

 Eagle Lake in late June, 1905: "Many seen in pairs, or old with young; 

 always close to shore and not as shy as other ducks; inhabits the lake 

 margins where many dead trees lie in the water. Often seen perched on 

 limbs of dead pines above the water." 



No. 361 



American Golden-eye 



A. 0. U. No. 151. Glaucionetta clangula americana (Bonaparte). 



Synonyms. — Golden-eye. Whistler. Garrot. 



Description. — Adult male: Head and upper neck black, with a greenish gloss 

 above and on sides; a circular white spot at base of upper mandible on side, but not 

 reaching upper angle of bill; lower neck all around, underparts, the middle and greater 



1 Condor, Vol. IX., Nov., 1907, p. 180. 

 l8l4 



