86 
size. Its flesh, however, ranks high and it apparently never becomes con- 
taminated by fish-eating. It is one of the first of the coast Ducks to mate 
and turn north in spring." 
139. Green-winged Teal. Nettion carolinense. L, 14-50. Plate VII B. 
Distinctions. The smallest of our Ducks. Size will always distinguish it from all 
others except the Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teals, and the Buffle-head. The brilliant 
green speculum will distinguish it from the latter and the absence of chalky blue on the 
fore-wing from the former two. 
Field Marks. Small size. In any plumage lack of chalky blue on wings distinguishes 
from the two other Teal, and the lack of white on the wings from the equally small 
Buffle-head. 
Nesting. On the ground, near water. 
Distribution. Across the continent, common everywhere in the west except perhaps 
the southern mid-prairie sections. Breeds north to the mouth of Mackenzie river. 
One of the daintiest of the Ducks. Its habit of flying in large flocks 
and its great speed on the wing makes it well known to sportsmen. The 
ease with which it attains such high speed while other species seem to labour 
so strenuously is notable. 
“Teal, both Green- and Blue-winged, are birds of the smaller waters, 
especially of the shallow prairie sloughs. Of the two, the Green-winged is 
the more universal bird. It is the earlier migrant in the spring and remains 
north much later than its blue-winged relative in autumn. Most Blue- 
wings leave the prairies in September, the Green-wings remain into the 
next month. Both are much given to frequenting the shallows and con- 
gregating in sunning parties on mudbanks and sandbars. They are 
eagerly sought by sportsmen, for in spite of their very small size no other 
Ducks are so fat and few as toothsome. Teal are shot much more easily 
than many other Ducks on account of their manner of flying in compact 
masses and where their great speed gives them little advantage against the 
scatter gun." 
140. Blue-winged Teal. Querquedula discors. L, 16. Plate VII B. 
Distinctions. One of the smallest of our Ducks. Small size and large area of chalky 
blue on wing, characteristics shared only by the Cinnamon Teal and the Shoveller. The 
latter is a very much larger bird. The former in adult male is too dissimilar for any con- 
fusion, being solid cinnamon-rufous almost all over. Females of Blue-winged and Cinna- 
mon Teals are so much alike that probably some specimens will be impossible of separation 
by any known test. As a rule the female Blue-winged is less heavily and less broadly 
streaked or overwashed on breast and flanks and the bill is generally shorter and relatively 
slightly broader at the base. 
Field Marks. Small size and large area of chalky blue on wings and white underwing 
surface like a Mallard, separate from all but the Cinnamon Teal. In adult males the 
difference in general coloration of these two Bpecies is too great for serious confusion. 
The females probably cannot be told apart in life and generally can be recognized only 
when accompanied by a mate whose identity is evident. 
Nesting. On the ground amidst grass. 
Distribution. Across the continent. Common through the prairie sections, rarer in 
the interior of British Columbia and practically absent from the Canadian west coast. 
Breeds north to Great Slave lake. 
141. Cinnamon Teal. Querquedula cyanoptera. L, 16. One of the four smallest 
of our Ducks. Adult male: uniform rich cinnamon-red head, neck, shoulders, breast, and 
flanks. Green speculum. A large area of fore-wing chalky blue as in the Blue-winged Teal. 
Female: hardly separable from female of that species. 
Distinctions. The male, with its strongly red coloration similar to the Ruddy Duck, 
but with wholly red head and blue wing patch, is easily recognized. The female can not 
always be separated from the female Blue-winged Teal. As a general rule it is more 
coarsely and heavily striped and overwashed with a richer brown on breast and flanks, and 
