(GREY TEAL.)
+Querquedula versicolor+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 129; _iid. P.
Z. S._ 1868, p. 146 (Buenos Ayres), et 1876, p. 388; _Durnford,
Ibis_, 1877, p. 191 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, p. 401 (Patagonia);
_Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 274 (Entrerios). +Anas maculirostris+,
_Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 516 (Mendoza). +Querquedula
maculirostris+, _Burm. P. Z. S._ 1872, p. 367.
_Description._--Above grey, with narrow black cross bands, which are
more numerous and narrower on the rump; top of head smoky brown,
sides of head and throat white; abdomen whitish, tinged with
ochraceous and spotted with black on the breast, more whitish and
with numerous cross bands on the belly; wings externally greyish
brown; speculum purplish green, margined, with white above and
below, also with a subterminal black band; flanks distinctly barred
across with black and white; bill black, with an orange blotch each
side at the base of the mandible; feet hazel: whole length 16·5
inches, wing 7·6, tail 3·4. _Female_ similar, but colour duller and
wing-speculum not so bright.
_Hab._ Paraguay, Argentina, Patagonia, and Chili.
This prettily variegated blue-grey Teal with its strongly marked bill
is perhaps the most abundant of the genus in the Argentine Republic,
especially in the southern portion. It is resident, and unites in much
larger flocks than any other bird of this group in the country. Its
note when disturbed or flying is very peculiar, resembling in sound the
muffled stridulating of the mole-cricket. Durnford found it common and
breeding at Baradero.