Many of the diving ducks described in the preceding pages occur as migrants on nearly every large lake or river in the interior of New England and in eastern New York. Two of the Mergansers described in the following section also occur as migrants on inland ponds and streams. All these species, however, dive for their food, and may be thus distinguished from the true river or pond ducks, which obtain their food by tipping in shallow water, after the nianner of the common domestic duck. Seven species belonging to this division occur regularly in eastern New York and New England ; all but one, however, are now so rare that the ordinary observer will hardly come across them. They must be sought for in the ponds of Maine or southeastern Massachusetts, where, however, numerous gunners are generally lying in wait for them in their favorite haunts. The Black Duck or Dusky Duck is still common, and may be met with as a migrant in any pond or stream; it breeds in many places, and winters in large numbers off the sea-shore. The Wood Duck, once found in summer near quiet forest pools and deserted mill ponds, is now very rare. The Mallard, the Widgeon, and the Pintail are migrants, occurring in varying numbers, but nowhere commonly; the Mallard occasionally winters off the coast. The two species of Teal, though becoming rare elsewhere, are still rather common fall migrants in Maine, and the Blue-winged Teal nests in the extreme northern and eastern counties of that state. (See Job, “ Auk,” vol. xiii. pp. 197–204.)
WOOD DUCK. Aix sponsa
18.50 in.
Ad. ♂.— Top of head metallic green, ending in a long crest of purple, interspersed with narrow white feathers; sides of head black; throat pure white, the white running up into side of the head and hind neck, almost separating the black side of the head into two areas; upper parts brown; when seen in good light the wings show velvety black, purple, and white; tail dark, long and fan-shaped; upper breast rich reddish-chestnut, with small white arrowy markings, white mark edged with black before the bend of the wing; flanks buffy-brown; rest of under parts white ; under tail-coverts dusky; bill dark; legs and feet brownish-yellow. Ad. ♀.— Top of head blackish; sides of head grayish-brown; ring round eye and patch behind it white; rest of upper parts brown, the wings at close range as in ♂; throat pure white; breast brown, mottled with buff; belly white, with here and there a dusky spot; bill dark; legs and feet yellowish-brown.
Nest, in holes in trees, near water. Eggs, ivory-white.
The Wood Duck was formerly a common summer resident throughout New York and New England, breeding about quiet ponds and slow streams; but it has diminished rapidly of late, and can hardly be considered common anywhere, unless in the wilder portions of northern New England. It is an uncommon winter visitant on Long Island, but elsewhere in New England occurs chiefly as a migrant in March and April, and from August to November, or as a rare summer resident. It may be found on small inland ponds or wooded streams. The male is unmistakable; the long crest-feathers and the black and white sides of the head give him a characteristic look. The female has a slight crest, but may be best distinguished by the white eye-ring and stripe of white behind the eye.
PINTAIL. Dafila acuta
NORTHERN PINTAIL
♂ 28.00 in. ♀ 22.00 in.
Ad. ♂.— Head, throat, and part of fore neck brown; hind neck black, separated from fore neck by a white stripe; back gray, with narrow wavy black lines; speculum bronze, with greenish reflections, bordered in front with cinnamon; long black feathers, edged with white, extend down the wing; middle tail-feathers long and black; lower fore neck, breast, and belly white; feathers under tail black; bill and feet slate. Ad. ♀.— Top of head and hind neck brown; back brown, the feathers edged with whitish; under parts whitish, spotted with dusky, darkest on neck; bill and feet slate. Im. ♂.— Similar to ♀, but with speculum as in ad. ♂.
The Pintail is a migrant through New York and New England, common off Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, but rare in most of New England. It occurs in Plymouth County, Mass., from the end of September through October, and again in April; in the Hudson Valley it is found till December, and off Long Island it occasionally winters. The adult male may be easily recognized by his long black tail-feathers, which are cocked up as he swims, but these are often not yet grown in the autumn. The male may, however, be identified by the long slender neck and by the pure white under parts.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Querquedula discors
16.00 in.
Ad. ♂.— Head apparently dusky, a broad white crescent in front of the eye; back brown, upper back mottled with buff ; upper parts buffy or reddish-buff, everywhere spotted with black; wing when closed has a light blue patch, edged with white, and a concealed greenish patch; bill black; legs and feet yellow. Ad. ♀.— Top of head blackish; throat whitish, no white crescent; back and wings dusky; under parts gray, streaked on the breast with black; wing as in ♂, but with less blue; bill greenish-black; legs and feet greenish-yellow.
Nest, on the ground, in weeds and rushes. Eggs, pale buff.
The Blue-winged Teal is a migrant through New York and New England, breeding rarely in northern and eastern Maine. It has become scarcer of late years, and though still commoner than the following species, it can hardly be called common except in the wilder portions of Maine. It is everywhere rarer in spring, than in autumn, occurring generally from the end of August to October. Teal, like the other river ducks, feed at night, and lie concealed by day. Toward dusk they approach the pond or marsh where they hope to feed, and may be known on the wing by their small size and great speed. When seen by day the male is easily recognized by the white crescent before the eye and by the blue in the wing; the latter mark also distinguishes the female. (See the following species.)
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Blue-winged Teal
