A handsome little Duck indeed is this, well known to sportsmen, and very
abundant throughout North America. It is migratory in its habits, and
nests from Minnesota and New Brunswick northward, returning southward in
winter to Central America and Cuba.
The green wing is commonly found in small flocks along the edges of
shallow, grassy waters, feeding largely upon seeds of grasses, small
acorns, fallen grapes or berries, as well as aquatic insects, worms, and
small snails. In their search for acorns these ducks are often found
quite a distance from the water, in exposed situations feeding largely
in the night, resting during the day upon bogs or small bare spots,
closely surrounded and hidden by reeds and grasses.
On land this Duck moves with more ease and grace than any other of its
species except the Wood Duck, and it can run with considerable speed. In
the water also it moves with great ease and rapidity, and on the wing it
is one of the swiftest of its tribe. From the water it rises with a
single spring and so swiftly that it can be struck only by a very expert
marksman; when wounded it dives readily.
As the Teal is more particular in the selection of its food than are
most Ducks, its flesh, in consequence, is very delicious. Audubon says
that when this bird has fed on wild oats at Green Bay, or soaked rice in
the fields of Georgia or Carolina, it is much superior to the Canvas
back in tenderness, juiciness, and flavor.
G. Arnold, in the _Nidologist_, says while traveling through the
northwest he was surprised to see the number of Ducks and other wild
fowl in close proximity to the railway tracks. He found a number of
Teal nests within four feet of the rails of the Canadian Pacific in
Manitoba. The warm, sun-exposed banks along the railway tracks, shrouded
and covered with thick grass, afford a very fair protection for the
nests and eggs from water and marauders of every kind. As the section
men seldom disturbed them--not being collectors--the birds soon learned
to trust them and would sit on their nests by the hour while the men
worked within a few feet of them.
The green-winged Teal is essentially a fresh-water bird, rarely being
met with near the sea. Its migrations are over the land and not along
the sea shore. It has been seen to associate with the Ducks in a
farmer's yard or pond and to come into the barn-yard with tame fowls
and share the corn thrown out for food.
The nests of the Teal are built upon the ground, generally in dry tufts
of grass and often quite a distance from the water. They are made of
grass, and weeds, etc., and lined with down. In Colorado under a sage
brush, a nest was found which had been scooped in the sand and lined
warmly with down evidently taken from the bird's own breast, which was
plucked nearly bare. This nest contained ten eggs.
The number of eggs, of a pale buff color, is usually from eight to
twelve, though frequently sixteen or eighteen have been found. It is far
more prolific than any of the Ducks resorting to Hudson's Bay, and Mr.
Hearn says he has seen the old ones swimming at the head of seventeen
young when the latter were not much larger than walnuts.
In autumn the males usually keep in separate flocks from the females and
young. Their notes are faint and piping and their wings make a loud
whistling during flight.
[Illustration: From col. Chi. Acad. Sciences.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL.
Copyrighted by
Nature Study Pub. Co., 1897, Chicago.]