88 
SUBSPECIES. The American Pintail is now separated from the Old World form 
under the name Difila acuta tzilzihoa. 
“The Pintail is a Duck of the prairies, the prairie slough being its 
ideal habitat. As a game bird it is less popular than the Mallard, mainly 
because it does not often feed on the fields as that Duck does, and because 
it is smaller. The Pintail usually is the most numerous Duck upon the 
prairie sloughs. It is often the first Duck to arrive at the break-up in 
spring, but is not a late lingerer in the autumn, the largest flocks are seen 
in late August and September. A very early nester, raising large broods. 
A rather shy bird, speedy on the wing and capable of taking care of itself. 
This Duck claims second or third place in the hearts of the plainland 
hunters.” 
144. Wood Duck, summer duck. Aix sponsa. L, 18-50. Plate IX A. 
Distinctions. A very characteristic bird in any plumage. Even in the dull eclipse 
plumage the male shows a shadowy suggestion of the peculiar face markings. Owing 
to the demand for this bird as a semi-domesticated Duck on ornamental waters, dealers 
sometimes substitute the more easily procured female Mandarin Duck for that of this 
species. The males, though quite as gorgeous as the Mandarin, are perfectly distinctive, 
but the females are so similar that the substitution may not be immediately discovered. 
However, the Mandarin female lacks the long fleshy bill process running up the sides of 
the forehead, and the feather line is consequently straighter than in the Wood Duck. 
Field Marks. The down-hanging crest and the white throat of the male are often 
visible when all the rest of the bright coloration is lost in the distance or confused by the 
glare of the sun. The white eye-ring of the female is likewise quite conspicuous. When 
on wing the white underbody is sometimes quite distinctive, as this species seems to show 
more white than any other white-bellied Duck. 
Nesting. In hollow trees or stumps in the vicinity of quiet water. 
Distribution. Across the continent, north barely into Canada. A woodland bird 
and hence rare or absent throughout the prairies, more common in the east and in southern 
British Columbia. 
This is the brightest coloured and most beautiful Duck in America 
and perhaps in the world. The only species that can approach it is the 
Mandarin Duck of China which is often seen in confinement with it. The 
Wood Duck was originally the “Summer Duck” of our southeastern 
borders and almost every woodland stream and backwater pond had at 
least one pair; but, since the clearing of the land, the farmer 's-boy-shot-gun 
combination has been too much for it. Its bright colours, the relative 
conspicuousness of its nesting places, and the ease with which it can be 
stalked or “jumped” in its more or less wooded haunts, have made it an 
easy prey for even the inexperienced shooter and it was until lately in 
great danger of being exterminated. A Duck that alights in trees is more 
or less paradoxical to most European sportsmen, but this species does so 
commonly. It builds its nest in a hollow tree some distance from the 
ground, usually overlooking a quiet oxbow pond or other dead water. How 
the young are brought to the ground is not known, and many conflicting 
reports are circulated regarding it — such as the old birds carrying their 
young in their bills or on their backs, or shoving them out to take chances 
with their little unfledged wings in fluttering to the ground. In some way 
they reach the ground at an early age and follow the mother about the 
reaches of the streams or other quiet waters. Later they seek the marshes, 
which they inhabit through the autumn, leaving for the south before the 
first frost has chilled the waters. 
The Wood Duck takes readily to nesting boxes prepared for the 
purpose and its numbers could probably be increased in this way. 
