60 
DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 
Nest. — Usually in a hollow tree, sometimes in a log or stump, lined with 
down. Eggs: usually 9 to 12, light greenish. 
Although ranging practically over the whole of North America 
the golden-eyes are rarely common. They are generally found in 
small flocks on large lakes or rivers, where they dive for fresh 
water weeds, mussels, and crustaceans. Their strong rapid flight 
is accompanied by a loud whistling of the wings, which gives them 
the common name of whistler. Vernon Bailey. 
152. Clangula islandica ( Gmel. ). Barrow Golden-eye. 
Similar to americana, but male with glossy blue black head, and tri¬ 
angular or crescent-shaped spot at base of bill; female with head and 
neck dark umber brown, white collar narrower, and white greater wing 
coverts tipped with dusky; nail of bill over .23 wide. Male : length 21- 
23, wing 9.17, bill 1.75. Female: wing 8.46, bill 1.56. 
Remarks. — In many of the females the characters do not hold, and it 
is difficult even with specimens of both species to name them all. 
Distribution. — Northern North America, breeding from mountains of 
Oregon, Colorado, and Gulf of St. Lawrence northward to Alaska and Green¬ 
land; south in winter to Illinois, Nebraska, Utah, and San Francisco Bay. 
Nest. — In hollow trees. 
The Barrow golden-eye, though less common and less widely dis¬ 
tributed in migration, breeds farther south than its near relative the 
American golden-eye, nesting in the crater basin of Paulina Lake, 
Oregon, and about many of the wild mountain lakes of the Rockies 
as far south as Colorado. In winter it is able to remain as far north 
as Minnesota or the Great Lakes by keeping in water that is too 
deep or rapid to freeze. Vernon Bailey. 
GENUS CHARITONETTA. 
153. Charitonetta albeola (Linn.). Buffle-head. 
A plump little duck with short, pointed bill and round, crested head. 
Adult male: head, except 
white patch, rich iridescent 
purple, violet, and green; 
back and part of wings 
black ; rump and tail gray ; 
rest of plumage white. Adult 
female: mainly grayish or 
dusky, with a large white spot 
on ear coverts and white patch 
on middle of wing; belly 
white. Male : length 14.25- 
15.25, wing 6.75-6.90, bill 
1*10-1.15. Female: smaller. 
Distribution. — North 
America, south in winter to 
Mexico ; breeds from Maine, 
Iowa, and British Columbia 
north to Alaska. 
Fig. 76. 
