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.
| HARLEQUIN DUCK (Histrionicus histrionicus) |
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.