(_Anas discors._)
So many names have been applied to this duck that much confusion
exists in the minds of many as to which to distinguish it by. A few of
them are blue-winged; white-face, or white-faced teal; summer teal,
and _cerceta comun_ (Mexico.) It inhabits North America in general,
but chiefly the eastern provinces; north to Alaska, south in winter
throughout West Indies, Central America, and northern South America as
far as Ecuador. It is accidental in Europe.
The blue-winged teal is stated to be probably the most numerous of our
smaller ducks, and, though by far the larger number occur only during
the migrations, individuals may be found at all times of the year
under favorable circumstances of locality and weather. The bulk of the
species, says Ridgway, winters in the Gulf states and southward, while
the breeding-range is difficult to make out, owing to the fact that it
is not gregarious during the nesting-season, but occurs scatteringly in
isolated localities where it is most likely to escape observation.
The flight of this duck, according to "Water Birds of North America,"
is fully as swift as that of the passenger pigeon. "When advancing
against a stiff breeze it shows alternately its upper and lower
surface. During its flight it utters a soft, lisping note, which it
also emits when apprehensive of danger. It swims buoyantly, and when
in a flock so closely together that the individuals nearly touch
each other. In consequence of this habit hunters are able to make
a frightful havoc among these birds on their first appearance in
the fall, when they are easily approached. Audubon saw as many as
eighty-four killed by a single discharge of a double-barreled gun.
"It may readily be kept in confinement, soon becomes very docile, feeds
readily on coarse corn meal, and might easily be domesticated. Prof.
Kumlein, however, has made several unsuccessful attempts to raise this
duck by placing its eggs under a domestic hen. He informs me that this
species is the latest duck to arrive in the spring." It nests on the
ground among the reeds and coarse herbage, generally near the water,
but its nest has been met with at least half a mile from the nearest
water, though always on low land. The nest is merely an accumulation of
reeds and rushes lined in the middle with down and feathers. This duck
prefers the dryer marshes near streams. The nests are generally well
lined with down, and when the female leaves the nest she always covers
her eggs with down, and draws the grass, of which the outside of the
nest is composed, over the top. Prof. Kumlein does not think that she
ever lays more than twelve eggs. These are of a clear ivory white. They
range from 1.80 to 1.95 inches in length and 1.25 to 1.35 in breadth.