In this country our breeding birds are practically resident, only shifting from their nesting-quarters when frozen out. The majority of birds met with, however, in winter are immigrants from the Continent, who leave us again in March.
The adult Drake in full plumage is a beautiful bird. The head and upper neck are metallic green; lower neck, breast, and scapulars white; back brown; shoulders pale blue; greater wing coverts white. The under parts are deep chestnut; speculum green; bill black; legs orange.
The Duck is dark brown, with light rufous buff edgings to the feathers. Shoulders bluish. The young at first resemble the Duck, and in November begin to assume the “intermediate” plumage described above, except that the breast feathers are spotted and not barred. It does not always assume its full plumage in the first year.
SHOVELLER
Spatula clypeata
THE PINTAIL
Dafila acuta (Linnæus)
This species visits us in large numbers during the winter, arriving in September and not leaving our shores till April. During this period it is essentially a Sea-Duck, haunting shallow shores and estuaries, where it feeds on aquatic vegetation, crustacea, and other animal life brought in by each tide. It is commoner on the east coast than elsewhere owing to the large tracts of shore suited to its habits, but it may be found in smaller numbers on the west and in Ireland, wherever suitable localities exist.
It is only of late years that it has been known to nest in this country, a small colony having established themselves on one of the Scotch lochs. Elsewhere it breeds abundantly throughout Northern Europe, migrating southwards in winter. The nest is placed in a dry situation, at some little distance from the water. The eggs are rather elongated in shape and pale buffish green in colour.
The adult male has a brown head, greenish black on the nape. A white stripe runs down the neck on either side, merging into the white of the under parts. Back and flanks dark brown, mottled with grey. Wing coverts buff; speculum bronze green; tail black, the two central feathers much elongated; under tail coverts black; bill and legs slate grey. The female is of varying shades of buff and brown. The elongated neck and general shape of this species is sufficient to distinguish it from others of its family. The young resemble the female, and moult directly into their full plumage in their first autumn. The eclipse plumage of the Drake, which is dark brown above and smoky grey below, is lost about October. Length 26 in.; wing 11 in.