116 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
They were seen as late as November 19, 1873, on the Zuni River near the New 
Mexico-Arizona boundary (Henshaw). On the Carlsbad Bird Reserve they were 
observed in February, 1914 (Wilder); reported as common in January, 1915; noted 
during the winter of 1915-1916; [and 600 estimated December, 1916; also on the 
Rio Grande Bird Reserve (Elephant Butte), they were noted November 23- 
December 9, 1916 (Willett).] 
A late spring migrant was taken April 26, 1892, near the southern boundary of 
the State 100 miles west of El Paso (Mearns). [In 1916, they were reported as 
rather common over the State in migration.]—W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —On dry ground usually near water, in grass or weeds, or under bushes; 
made of finely shredded grasses or tides; lined with fine grass and very dark-colored 
breast down. Eggs: 8 to 12, pale buff or creamy. 
Food. —Algae, tender shoots of grasses; blades, tubers, roots, and seeds of aquatic 
plants, as scirpus, pond weeds, widgeon grass, ruppia, and ooon-tail; nuts, acorns, 
insects, as beetles and dragon flies; and also mollusks, tadpoles, frogs, crawfish, and 
other small forms of aquatic life. 
General Habits. —The name of Creek Duck suggests the habits of 
the Gadwall, whose dull brown dress makes it inconspicuous when feed¬ 
ing along the reedy or grassy shores of creeks, shallow ponds, and lakes. 
Like the other shallow-water ducks it often feeds standing on its head in 
the water, the orange feet of the drake distinguishing him from the red¬ 
footed Mallard. The quack, frequently given on the wing, is higher 
and somewhat shriller than that of the Mallard. The male has, as Doctor 
Wetmore describes it, “a loud call like hack hack, a deep reed-like note 
resembling the syllable whack f and a shrill whistled call.” 
At Lake Burford, in^the summer of 1918, Doctor \yetmore found 
Gadwalls the commonest of the shallow-water ducks, and their mating 
flight, like that of the Mallards only given with more dash and speed, 
was constantly seen. It began by two males approaching a female in 
the water, calling and bowing. When she rose, mounting the air, they 
followed, calling and whistling constantly, darting from side to side and 
rising now rapidly and now slowly, frequently climbing three hundred 
yards or more into the air. The remarkable display of handsome wing 
and back markings, was made at first by one and then the other male 
swinging in ahead of her, but as the days passed the favored suitor dis¬ 
played oftener, flying so close to her in passing that his wings often 
struck hers, making a rattling noise, and after a short time the second 
male often left the pair and returned to the water. 
Additional Literature.—Bent, A. C., Auk, XVIII, 333-335,1901 (nest); U. S. 
Nat. Mus. Bull. 126, 77-85, 1923.— Wetmore, Alexander, Auk, XXXVII, 240- 
241, 1920. 
BALDPATE: Mareca americana (Gmelin) 
Description. — Length: 18-22 inches, wing 10.2-11, bill 1.3-1.5, tarsus, 
1.4-1.6. Weight: 1 x /i to 1% lbs. (Leopold). Bill small. Adult male in win¬ 
ter and breeding plumage: 1 Top of head white , encircled from eye backward by 
1 Mr. Aldo Leopold reports that near Albuquerque the adult male plumage (whether from the 
mmature or the eclipse, or both, is not known) is acquired November 15—December 1. 
