redhead (Aythya americana)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION

• Length: 14.5 inches Wingspan: 33 inches

• Medium-sized diving duck

• Smoothly rounded head

• Dark wing with grayish secondaries

• Immature female similar to adult female, immature male is similar to      female in autumn, but acquires alternate plumage during winter

Adult male alternate:

• Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer

• Eclipse-plumage male duller than in alternate plumage, especially             about the breast and

• Blue bill with white ring before black tip

• Yellow eyes

• Reddish head and neck

• Black breast

• Grayish back and flanks

• Black tail, upper- and under-tail coverts

• Whitish belly

Adult male basic:

• Duller than in alternate plumage, especially about the breast and back

Adult female:

• Brown eyes

• Dark blue-gray bill with black tip

• Brown head and body plumage

• Whitish belly

Similar species:

Adult male Redhead in alternate plumage easily is distinguished from
canvasback by yellow eye, blue bill with black tip, gray back and dif-

ferent profile. Females distinguished from female canvasback by brown

body plumage and blue bill with black tip. Females can be distinguished

from female ring-necked duck by smoothly rounded crown, dark cap and
darker brown plumage.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status:N/A
Breeding Habitat:Wetland-open water
Nest Location:N/A
Nest Type:N/A
Clutch Size:9-15
Length of Incubation: 24-28 days
Days to Fledge:56-73
Number of Broods:1
Diet: Almost exclusively green plant matter and seeds; lesser quantities
of insects and aquatic invertebrates

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November

      Winter: December, January, February Acc

 

 

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