Description: This waterfowl is smaller than a crow. Males have a white breast, belly, sides and tail, but a black back. The head is iridescent green and purple with a large white patch starting behind the eye. Females are brown with a white cheek patch. Both sexes have a white wing patch which is visible in flight.

Range: Alaska and Canada. It overwinters in Mexico and the Gulf Coast.

Habitat: Found in coastal habitat such as estuaries, salt bays and also in coastal lakes and rivers.

General: This is a diving bird, which feeds on small aquatic animals and insects.

Bovey, Robin, Campbell, Wayne, and Gates, Brian. 1989. Birds of Victoria and Vicinity. Lone Pine Publishing. Edmonton, Alberta.

Peterson, Roger Tory. 1990. Peterson Field Guides: Western Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, New York.

Udvardy, Miklos D. F. 1994. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region. Chanticlear Press, Inc. New York, New York.

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