Redhead Ducks
Duck Information ... Duck Species ... Photo Gallery
Books about Ducks, Geese and Other Fowl (book ratings and multiple buying options, including new and used, sold in
,
,
,
)
Description:
The Redhead Duck (Aythya americana is a medium-sized diving duck, 37 cm long with an 84 cm wingspan.
The adult male has a blue bill, a red head and neck, a black breast, yellow eyes and a grey back.
The adult female has a brown head and body and a darker bluish bill with a black tip.
Distribution:
The breeding habitat is marshes and prairie potholes in western North America. Loss of nesting habitat has led to sharply declining populations.
Following the breeding season, males go through a molt which leaves them flightless for almost a month. Before this happens, they leave their mates and move to large bodies of water, usually flying further north.
They overwinter in the southern and north-eastern United States, the Great Lakes region, northern Mexico and the Caribbean.
This strong migrant is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.
Nesting:
Females regularly lay eggs in the nests of other Redheads or other ducks, especially Canvasbacks. Redheads usually take new mates each year, starting to pair in late winter.
Diet:
These birds feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They mainly eat aquatic plants with some molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org
Related Web Resources: USGS ... Redhead (Virtual Bird Field Guide) ... Birds of Nova Scotia
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!




