Part 5

THE WOOD DUCK

(Aix sponsa)

The wood duck, the handsomest of all the American ducks, is not plentiful anywhere, and seems to be growing fewer in numbers. Ornithologists class them as resident ducks, breeding throughout their range. From my personal experience I believe that they are migratory, at least to a considerable extent, for while many flocks of from half a dozen to twenty birds can be seen along the timbered portions of the Sacramento river during the summer months and the early fall, as well as along other wooded streams of the Coast, few are to be seen during the shooting season. From this fact I can draw but one conclusion; they migrate south in the winter. A few are killed each winter but they can only be considered a rare duck whose beauty lends an occasional charm to the game bag.

=Color=--Male--The male has a long crest falling down the back of the neck and showing a green and purple luster; the bill is red with a dark stripe on top; a broad stripe of white commences under the bill and passes down the neck, meeting another stripe of white that nearly encompasses the neck; sides and front of lower neck, brownish purple, dotted with white; back, a bronze green; speculum, bluish purple, bordered with black and white.

Female--The general plan of the markings of the female is the same as that of the male, but the colors are not so bright, nor the crest so long. The crest is more of a brown, and the breast a pale brown, mottled with dark spots.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is built in the hollow of a tree or stump, and occasionally a considerable distance above the ground. The eggs, which average about eight, are of a pale brownish white. The young are taken from the nest in the bill of the mother, and are often seen perched on her back while she is swimming around in search of food.

=Measurements=--Total length of the male, about 18 inches, with the female about an inch less; wing, 9-1/4 to 9-1/2; bill 1 3/8 inches.

THE FULVOUS TREE DUCK

(Dendrocygna fulva)

The fulvous tree-duck, commonly called the Mexican tree-duck, and cavalier, as well as the black-bellied tree-duck (=Dendrocygna autumnalis=), according to the classification of the ornithologist, belong to the subfamily, =Anserinæ=, the same family as the geese. The fact that they have a bill more like that of the goose than any other duck, a goose neck also, and that there is no difference in the sexes will show the reason for such classification. Their generic name, however, signifies tree-swan. The fulvous tree-duck ranges on our hunting grounds as far north as Sacramento, where occasionally one is killed. They come here only to breed and, therefore, late in the season. Quite a few are killed in southern California, and from Arizona and Lower California south they are very plentiful. The black-bellied tree-duck is only met with as a straggler north of Chihuahua, Mexico. Another species of the same genus (=Dendrocygna elegans=) is a still more southern bird, seldom seen north of the state of Guerrero.

=Color=--Sides of head and neck and lower parts, buff; top of head, back of neck and back, dark brown; wings, dark brown; neck, long and slim; bill, resembles that of a goose very much. Both sexes alike.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are generally built in a hollow tree or stump. The eggs number from ten to fifteen and are of an ochreous white.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 9-1/2; bill, 1-3/4 inches.

Order, ANSERES

Family, ANATIDAE Subfamily, ANATINAE

(Fresh water ducks)

Genus Species Common Names Breeding Grounds and Range. --------- ------------- ----------------- ------------------------------

{boschas Mallard {Throughout the scope of { {this work. Breeds wherever { {found. { {strepera Gadwall {From Central California { {south. Breeds wherever { {found. { { {From British America south. { {Breeds on the mountain {americana Widgeon Baldpate {lakes from California Anas { {south. { { {From British America south. {carolinensis Green-winged teal {Breeds throughout its range. { { {From Central California {cyanoptera Cinnamon teal {south. Breeds from Central { {California to Central Mexico. { { {discors Blue-winged teal {From Arizona south into { {Mexico. Breeds throughout { {its range.

Spatula clypeata {Shoveller or {From British America south. {Spoon-bill {Breeds on the mountain {lakes from Mexico north.

Dafila acuta {Pin-tail or {From British America south. {Sprig {Breeds from Central {California north.

{Along the wooded streams {from Central California Aix sponsa Wood duck {north. Breeds wherever {found.

THE BAY and SEA DUCKS

As I have already stated the ducks are divided into two subfamilies, the one the =Anatinæ=, commonly called fresh-water ducks, the other the =Fuligulinæ=, commonly known as the salt-water ducks. A distinguishing feature of the salt-water ducks is the little flap or web on the hind toe, which is not seen in the fresh-water varieties.

On our shooting grounds, however, whether the blind is on the salt-water marsh or the fresh-water pond, both kinds are sure to fall to the gun in almost equal numbers. Of the more common of the fresh-water varieties the gadwall and the mallard are seen the least on the salt marshes and the tide overflows, yet even these are quite often met with in these places. So it is with the salt-water species. All except the scoters are frequenters of the mountain lakes, fresh-water ponds and overflows. The red-head, both species of the scaups, the canvasback and the ruddy are commonly found on the fresh-waters. The ring-neck, and, in fact, the red-head are much more common on these waters than on the salt or brackish marshes.

With the exception, therefore, that certain species always predominate at a given place at certain times of the season, the sportsman's aim brings down a well-assorted bag, let him shoot where he may, on marsh, pond or overflow, from Washington to Mexico.

THE CANVASBACK

(Aythya vallisneria)

The canvasback, the duck par excellence of the Eastern states, is very plentiful in the more northern portions of the territorial scope of these articles, though I have seen them in good numbers on the lakes of Mexico. It is the general supposition that the canvasback breeds in the far north, but from the fact that they are found on the lakes of Mexico as early as October, they must also breed on the higher lakes of our mountains. On our lower marshes they are a late duck, but they appear on our mountain lakes quite early in the season. Canvasback shooting on our waters affords the finest of sport, as it does not partake so much of flock shooting as it does on the Chesapeake and the Delaware rivers. While I certainly prefer our shooting, by no means do I prefer our ducks. When killed on the mountain lakes, our canvasback possesses nearly if not quite as fine flavor as do those of the Eastern states, but when killed on the bays and salt marshes of California they are fishy and barely palatable. This is caused by the absence of the so-called wild celery, properly tape grass (=Vallisneria spiralis=), the common food of the Eastern canvasback. Our birds have the habit of feeding largely on the shallow waters of the tide lands and marshes and of consuming large quantities of crustaceans, such as clams, crabs, mussels and the like, and it takes but a few days' diet of this kind to make the canvasback about the poorest of ducks. I have killed these ducks on the high lakes and ponds of Mexico, when, on account of something they fed upon, they were really unfit to eat.

=Color=--Male--Head and neck, nearly black; back, light gray; bill, black, and forming nearly a straight line from the tip to the crown of the head; belly and flanks, nearly white.

Female--Head and neck, cinnamon brown, paler on the throat; back, dark gray.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest of the canvasback is generally found on some little knoll in the marsh, and is lined with dead grass and feathers, and often with considerable down. The eggs, which are about ten in number, are of a dark creamy white.

=Measurements=--Total length, from 18 to 22 inches; the more northern birds within the territory here covered will always be found considerably larger than those of the more southern latitudes. Wing, 8 to 9-1/2 inches, and bill about 2-1/2 inches.

THE RED-HEAD

(Aythya americana)

The red-head is quite a common duck in the southern sections of the Coast hunting grounds. Though purely a bay or salt-water duck, that is, belonging to the subfamily =Fuligulinæ=, it is not found to any great extent on the salt-water marshes, preferring the higher lakes, ponds and reservoirs of the mountain valleys and foothills. I found them one season in great numbers on the San Rafael marshes, high up in the mountains of Lower California, and all the shooting two friends and myself wished to do had no effect in driving them away, although the ponds of the marsh were few and small.

=Color=--Male--Head and neck, reddish chestnut; lower neck and upper breast, sooty brown, a mixture of finely penciled lines of gray and brown; speculum, gray; back, gray; feathers on the top of the head almost form a crest; bill, lead color.

Female--Head and neck, light cinnamon brown, very pale on the sides of the head near the bill, and throat nearly white; breast and shoulders, dirty light brown, and back a darker dirty brown.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest, like that of the canvasback, is generally built in the marsh or on the low banks of a lake, usually lined with down and contains about ten eggs of a brownish buff color.

=Measurements=--Total length, about 20 inches; wing, 8-1/4 to 8-1/2; bill barely 2-1/4 inches.

THE AMERICAN SCAUP, OR BLUE-BILL

(Aythya marila neartica)

The American scaup, or blue-bill, the lesser scaup (=Aythya affinis=) and the ring-neck (=Aythya collaris=) are very plentiful from Washington to Mexico. These three species are generally grouped together by the sportsmen of the Coast under the name of black jacks, black ducks, black-heads or blue-bills; all three species being considered as belonging to the one variety, and the lesser scaup (=Aythya affinis=) as the younger birds. With the males, at least, there should be no excuse for this error, for they can be easily distinguished by the color of the speculum, or bright band on the wings, and by the color of the metallic sheen of the head and neck. The speculum of the American scaup, or larger blue-bill, is white, the head and neck showing a greenish sheen, quite pronounced in the sunlight. The lesser scaup, or little blue-bill (=Aythya affinis=) has a white speculum also, but the sheen of the head and neck is purple. The ring-neck (=Aythya collaris=), has a gray speculum, which, though quite light in color, can easily be distinguished from the pure white of the other two. The metallic sheen of the head of the ring-neck is a dark indigo blue. The bill of the ring-neck is quite different from that of the scaups, being much darker in color and more of a sooty tinge and with a faint bluish band across it about half an inch from the end. The females of all three species resemble each other very closely, but the difference in size will generally determine to which species they belong. The two blue-bills can be told from the female ring-neck by their white speculums. The female ring-neck has the gray of the male, but this does not distinguish it from the female red-head. The smaller size of the ring-neck and darker appearance of the head and neck will always indicate to which species the female belongs. The bill of the female red-head meets the skull in quite an abrupt manner, while hat of the ring-neck has more of the sloping character of the canvasback.

=Color=--Male--Head and neck, black, showing a green luster in the sun; back, gray, finely lined with black; under parts, white; speculum, white.

Female--Head, dead brown, with a light gray patch at the base of the bill blending into the brown of the head; breast and back, dirty brown; under parts, white; speculum, white; bill, bluish.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is a crude affair near the water's edge, containing about ten pale olive-buff eggs.

=Measurements=--Total length, about 18 inches; wing, 8-1/2, and bill, 1 7/8 inches. The females are but a trifle smaller.

THE LESSER SCAUP, OR LITTLE BLUE-BILL

(Aythya affinis)

The little blue-bill, or lesser scaup, like its larger relative, is a cosmopolitan species, and commonly met with in flocks of the other, which has led to the common error of classing the two together, the one as the elder and the other as the younger birds.

While in general color and markings they are very similar, there is so much difference in their size that they should be easily distinguished. With the males this is very easy for the head of the larger species has a green sheen, the head of the lesser has a purple sheen as shown in the sun. The bill of this species is more of a blue and much smaller, being not over 1-1/2 inches in length.

=Color=--The color and markings are the same as the American scaup, with the exception that the metallic sheen of the head, as already mentioned, is purple.

=Nest and Eggs=--The same as the American scaup.

=Measurements=--Total length, about 16-1/2 inches; wing, 7-1/2, and bill 1-1/2 inches.

THE RING-NECK

(Aythya collaris)

In the breeding season the ring-neck male has a dirty orange ring around the neck which disappears wholly, or nearly so, before the beginning of the hunting season. The ring-neck is generally more plentiful on the fresh waters. I have seen great numbers of them at the mouth of the Colorado river. In fact, both the ring-neck and the lesser scaup range much farther south than do the larger species, for while few of the larger scaup are seen in Mexico, great quantities of the little blue-bills are found throughout the republic, especially on the salt marshes of the two coasts. All of these three species breed along the mountain lakes from California north.

=Color=--Male--Head and neck, black, with an indigo sheen when turned in the sun. This will always distinguish it from the larger blue-bill whose sheen is green and the lesser blue-bill whose sheen is purple. The speculum is gray; bill, bluish with a pale blue band across it about a half inch from the end.

Female--The female of this species resembles the female of the red-head very closely. It is considerable darker, however, and the bill joins the head without the marked indentation seen in the red-head.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest and eggs are the same as the scaups.

=Measurements=--Total length, 17-1/2 inches; wing, 8, and bill, 2 inches.

THE RUDDY DUCK, OR WIRE-TAIL

(Erismatura rubida)

The ruddy duck is a very common duck on our shooting grounds, from one end to the other, though as a rule it is not much sought after by our sportsmen. When feeding on the salt marshes they are not very palatable, it is true, but when killed on fresh waters they are one of our finest flavored ducks, if properly cooked. After refusing many shots at these little ducks and even many times failing to carry home those I did kill, it remained for Mr. Babcock, then of the Coronado Hotel, of San Diego, California, to demonstrate to me the real value of the ruddy duck. I was one of the party shooting with him on his preserve at Otay dam. When we came into the house after our morning's shoot, a most enjoyable one, he asked each member of the party what kind of duck he wished for his dinner. Mallards, canvasbacks, sprigs and widgeons had been named, so when he came to me I answered that any kind would do me. To this he replied: "Then you shall have one of my favorites." When dinner was ready, before each plate was a beautifully roasted duck of the species chosen by the member of the party for whom that plate was laid, but the plates in front of Mr. Babcock and myself each contained two plump little birds that I did not recognize in their undress uniform. After I had tasted of one, Mr. Babcock asked: "How do you like my selection?" "Very much," I answered, "but what are they? I never ate anything better." "The much despised ruddy," was his reply, "the superior of the canvasback when properly handled." The best evidence that I fully endorsed all that he claimed for the ruddy duck is the fact that there was nothing left of my two birds but well-picked bones. The ruddy duck may well be called a resident species over the whole of the Pacific Coast shooting grounds, for they breed not only on the lakes and streams, but on the lower marshes as well, throughout the whole territory.

The ruddy duck is known by a number of names such as "wire tail," "dipper," "bullet-head," "buffle-head," etc.

=Color=--Male--Top of head, dark brown; sides of head below the eye, dirty white; upper parts, brown; no speculum on the wing; axillars, very light gray with light brown shafts; tail, broad and stiff with the feathers pointed; under parts, dirty white.

Female--Much the color of the male, but more of a dirty brown. Side of the head and throat, dirty gray.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are usually built on little hillocks in the marshes, and contain from six to eight dirty white eggs.

=Measurements=--The ruddy is a small duck with a very rounded body. Total length, about 15 inches; wing, 6, and bill, 1-1/2 inches, strongly depressed in the center.

THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE

(Glaucionetta clangula americana)

The American golden-eye is a visitor from the far north to the northern portions of the territory covered by this work. An occasional straggler is killed as far south as San Francisco, but they are a cold country bird. They are more common in the interior of Washington and Oregon than along the coast.

=Color=--Male--Head and upper half of neck, dark green with a metallic sheen; a nearly round patch of white between the eye and the base of the bill; lower part of neck, most of the back and the under parts, white; upper part of the back, rump and tail, black; wings, mostly white.

Female--Head and upper neck, brown; gray spot at the base of the bill; breast and under parts, gray; back and most of the wings, brownish black.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is usually built in a hollow tree or stump and contains about ten eggs of a bluish white color.

=Measurements=--Total length, about 19 inches; wing, 9, and bill, 1 7/8. Female about one-tenth smaller.

BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE

(Glaucionetta ilandica)

Barrow's golden-eye is another duck that is seen, but little within the Pacific Coast hunting grounds, and only then near the coast sections of the northern part. They are found more plentiful on the islands along the north Pacific coast.

=Color=--The male resembles the American golden-eye very closely, except that the head of the Barrow's is more of a purple, or greenish purple. The white at the base of the bill is also different, it being a crescent shape instead of round.

The female differs in the head being more of a cinnamon brown, and the back more of a gray and slightly mottled with brown.

=Nest, Eggs and Measurements=--The same as the American golden-eye.

THE BUTTER-BALL

(Charitonetta albeola)

The butter-ball, or buffle-head, is another common duck all over the country. But where we have so many larger and better ducks they are little sought for, and are generally considered poor shooting. Yet I recall one occasion when with a friend I was shooting on a couple of foothill ponds where many of these little ducks had congregated, they furnished us with fine sport. The larger ducks were soon scared away, but the little butter-balls would not leave. One of us was stationed at each pond and we soon had them all in the air.

=Color=--Male--Head, greenish purple, with a strong metallic luster; white patch running from the eye to the back of the head; feathers of the head long, forming a crest; back, black; under parts white and a broad white patch on the wing.

Female--The female is a very modestly colored bird to have so gaudy a mate. Head and upper parts, a dark, dead brown; under parts, white; speculum, white; a small, elongated white spot on the side of the head.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is usually built on some elevation such as a stump or log; some times in a tree. The eggs, numbering eight to ten, are of a pale buff color.

=Measurements=--Total length, 11 to 12-1/2 inches; wing, about 6, and bill, 1 inch.

THE OLD SQUAW, OR LONG-TAILED DUCK

(Clangula hyemalis)

The old squaw, or long-tailed duck, comes but little into California, though a few are killed each year in Washington and Oregon. I killed one several years ago as far south as Los Angeles county, California, the only one I have ever known to get that far away from his northern home.

=Color=--Male--As the winter plumage is the only garb that one of this species will be seen in on these hunting grounds, I will only mention it. Head, white, with a patch of brownish black on the side of the head and side of the neck; breast, black, continuing over the back; belly, white; wings, white; a band of yellow across the bill; central tail feathers, black and very long.

Female--Head, white, with a dark patch on the top and on the side; breast and back, smoky black; under parts, white; no long feathers in the tail.

THE HARLEQUIN DUCK

(Histrionicus histrionicus)

The harlequin duck is a northern bird that comes but little into the United States on either coast. A few stragglers are met with in Oregon and Washington, and an occasional one is killed in California. These and the old squaw add a pleasing variety to our mounted collections, but nothing to our sport.

=Color=--The accompanying illustration is the best description of this duck that can be given, as the colors are white and a brownish black. It is about the size of the widgeon.

THE SCOTERS

(Oidemia deglandi--Oidemia americana)

The scoters, or coots, as they are called on the Atlantic coast, are all found on this coast southward to Mexico. Of these the white-winged scoter (=Oidemia deglandi=) is the most common, being found in large numbers on all the bays and inlets of the coast as far south as the Magdalena bay, Lower California.

Order, ANSERES

Family, ANATIDAE Subfamily, FULIGULINAE.

(Bay and sea ducks)

Genus Species Common Names Range and Breeding Grounds ------------ ------------ ---------------- ----------------------------