A Pioneer History oe Becker County. 163 
17. Red-breasted Merganser (Merganser senator ). 
May be looked for as a breeding bird as well as migrant. 
Nest on ground near water. 
18. Hooded Merganser, “Fish Duck,” “Saw-bill,” (Lophodytes 
cucullatns ). 
A common duck, nesting in hollow trees. Remains late 
in the fall, often in rapid places in streams, when all still 
water is frozen over. A beautiful bird but the flesh usually 
“fishy” and indifferent eating. 
19. Maeeard. “Green-head” (Anas boschas). 
Breeding commonly in marshes and sloughs, especially in 
the prairie portions of the county. This, like all the ducks, 
has been reduced deplorably in numbers of late years. 
Still an abundant migrant spring and fall. 
The Black Mallard, or Dusky Duck, probably occurs spar¬ 
ingly during migrations. 
20. Gadwaee. Gray Duck (Cliaulelasmus streperus ). 
Common, breeding; similar to Mallard in its summer hab¬ 
its. 
21. Baud pate, American Widgeon (Marcca amcricana) . 
Not very common, breeds. 
22. Green-winged Teae (Nettion carolinensis ). 
Common spring and fall, but for the most part breed- 
ins: further north. 
23. BeuE-winged Teal (Querquedula discors ). 
An abundant bird in all suitable localities, nesting com¬ 
monly about marshes and ponds. 
The western Cinnamon Teal may occur occasionally as 
a rare straggler. 
24. Shoveller, Spoon-bill (Spatula clypeata.) 
Common, breeds. Usually light in weight and a poor 
duck for the table. 
25. Pintail, “Sprig-tail” (Dafila acuta). 
A common early spring and fall migrant, appearing in 
large flocks; breeding less numerously in the prairie por¬ 
tion of the County. 
26. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). 
This gorgeously colored and valuable duck is rapidly 
decreasing in numbers everywhere with the advent of civ¬ 
ilization. The Wood Duck, as its name implies, is partial 
