Redhead
Aythya americana
Identification Tips:
- 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 different 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.