(_Anas cyanoptera._)
Davie says that the geographical distribution of this beautiful teal is
western America, from the Columbia river south to Chili, Patagonia, and
Falkland Islands; east in North America to the Rocky Mountains; casual
in the Mississippi Valley, and accidental in Ohio. It is abundant in
the United States west of the Rocky Mountains, breeding in Colorado,
Utah, Nevada, California, Idaho, and Oregon. Its habits are similar to
those of the blue-wing. Its favorite breeding-places are in fields of
tall grass or clover, not far from water. The eggs range from nine to
thirteen, and the nest is so completely woven of grass, feathers, and
down that it is said the entire structure may be picked up without
its coming apart. Oliver Davie, the well known ornithologist, says
that it gave him pleasure to be able to add this beautiful duck to the
avifauna of Ohio as an accidental visitor. On the 4th of April, 1895, a
fine male of this species was taken at the Licking County reservoir by
William Harlow. On the 6th Mr. Davie skinned and mounted it and it is
now one of the rare Ohio birds in his collection. It proved to be good
eating. This, he says, is the first record of the cinnamon teal ever
having been taken in the state.
The eggs of this species are creamy-white or pale buff, the average
size being 1.88×1.38.