7
Back Bay Basin,
Boston, Mass.
1909.
Feb. 27
(No 7)
  As the sun was behind me its light aided, rather
than interfered with, my observation of the Golden-eyes.
The females were comparatively unconspicuous, partly
because of their sober coloring but also, I thought,
because they habitually sank themselves deeper in the
water than did the drakes. The latter, whether adult
or immature, floated very lightly showing the greater
part of their bodies above the surface. The full plumaged
ones were handsome birds whose strongly contrasting
black and white coloring made them conspicuous under
all conditions and at long distances. When they were
near at hand I could see the green iredescence on
their big, fluffy heads glints and shimmer in the
sunlight. They were evidently, quite aware of their
personal attractiveness and, indeed, devoted themselves
to calling it to the attention of the females by
Whistler courtship.
Females look small & inconspicuous in water
Old drakes showy & conspicuous