Pius NEG ee we Learn e Bos lal DTN 5 
The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper breeds on the tundra of northern Siberia 
and has been found during migration on the west coast of North America 
(Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and California) where it is con- 
sidered rare. More recently this species has occurred once inland (Arizona) 
and on the east coast (Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, and possibly 
New York) with the range of dates in fall being 12 August to 15 October 
(American Birds). 
—Illinois State Museum 
Springfield, Illinois 62706 
and 
40 Eastmoreland Drive 
Decatur, Illinois 62521 
fi fi fA ai 
THIRD STATE RECORD — FULVOUS TREE DUCK 
by RANDALL MADDING and JOHN BELL 
On 24 August 1974, John and Kay Bell, Grace Hosterman and Randy 
Madding were observing wading birds, shorebirds and ducks on flooded 
farmland in Jackson County one mile north of the Pine Hills—LaRue 
Ecological Area. We spent one-half hour walking a mudflat adjacent to a 
levee bordering the Big Muddy River. Instead of everyone returning to 
the truck, Randy decided to circle the mudflat and have the others meet 
him further north on the levee road. 
As he came to the end of the mudflat, he flushed a small flock of Wood 
Ducks from a group of willow trees. While observing the Wood Ducks 
through binoculars a rust-colored duck entered the field of view approxi- 
mately 40 meters away. The duck appeared similar to the Fulvous Tree 
Ducks (Dendrocygna bicolor) he had observed in California the preceeding 
summer. It had a white stripe on the side under the wing and a black 
tail with a white base. The duck was quickly outdistanced by the faster- 
flying Wood Ducks and circled alone for about three minutes before joining 
15-20 other ducks and landing in a field about a mile north of where it 
had been flushed. 
Our party rejoined on the levee road and continued north in an attempt 
to relocate the duck. We found it resting on a small pool in a wheat 
stubble field near 30 Mallards and Wood Ducks and viewed it for five 
minutes from approximately 200 meters with binoculars and a 30 power 
scope. The duck was then flushed by a tractor plowing in the field nearby. 
All these ducks headed south towards the area where Randy had originally 
observed them. Our attempt to locate the tree duck again and to photograph 
it were not successful. 
The following day we returned to the pool where the tree duck had 
first been located. As we were scanning the 100+ Mallards, they were 
flushed by three other birders on the adjacent mudflat. At this time, we 
spotted the tree duck again as he was quickly left behind by the faster- 
flying Mallards. We watched this duck circle for nearly three minutes 
before it joined a small flock of Mallards and disappeared east over the 
Big Muddy River. During these three separate observations, all field marks 
were observed by our party. 
During the next few days, many Illinois birders observed the duck; 
it was last seen on 31 August. 
—R.R. 2 Box 55 
Corydon, Kentucky 42406 
