95 
of face, hence the name. The female is white below, blackish or greyish brown above and 
on head, with softly margined white cheek spot extending back towards nape. The 
juvenile is like the female, but the* throat is a little lighter and the cheek mark partly 
obscured (Figure 130). 
Figure 130 
Buffle-head; scale, J. 
Distinctions. The very small size and white 
speculum. Juveniles and females are rather like com- 
parative plumages of Scaups, but much smaller and 
with a light cheek patch instead of a spot at base of 
bill. Somewhat suggestive of female Harlequin, but 
continuously white below, with one instead of two face 
spots, and a white speculum. 
Field Marks. Male with conspicuous white 
triangle on black head is easily recognized. This species 
though it has a big-headed appearance similar to the 
Golden-eye is so much smaller that confusion can 
hardly result. Females and juveniles can best be 
recognized by their small size, single face spot, and 
white underparts and speculum. 
r uj imitj. 
Nesting. 
In stumps or hollow trees. 
Distribution. North America, breeds in the west throughout the prairies, and in 
British Columbia except the most southern parts, north through Mackenzie valley. 
The name Spirit Duck is given to this little species because of its 
remarkable diving, and ability to disappear when injured. 
* ‘Scattered commonly throughout the west, and in autumn sometimes 
met with in considerable flocks, the Buffle-head is one of the incidental 
Ducks that come to bag without being specially sought. It is a diving 
Duck and rarely found upon shallow, muddy ponds. Its flesh is good 
inland, though on the coast often unfit for food from its habit of feeding 
on dead salmon.” 
Figure 131 Tail of Old-squaw (male!; 
Old-squaw; scale, J. scale, J. 
a, male in summer. 
b, male in winter. 
c, female. 
154. Old -squaw, cockawee. long-tailed duck. Clangula hyemalis. L, 21 
(Projection of two middle tail feathers beyond others 4- 5-5-0). A medium-sized Duck 
showing a remarkable seasonal change of coloration. The adult male in spring and 
summer has head (Figure 131a), neck, breast, and back dark seal-brown, lower abdomen 
and flanks white. There is an almost white mask-like patch including the eye and rusty- 
ochre stripes over the wings and at base of hindneck. In winter the colours change entirely 
and it becomes a mostly white, instead of a mostly dark bird (Figure 131b). Head and 
neck white with a light grey face and a large dark and rusty-grey patch over cheeks and 
ears. White below, with a broad belt of dark seal-brown, nearly black, sharply defined 
against white base of foreneck above and abdomen below. Above, white of neck extended 
almost to shoulders; back black with spray of elongated pearl-grey feathers drooping 
from shoulders over wings. No speculum or wing marks. In both seasons the long, central 
