Rare to Ivvavik ³

This species is rare to Ivvavik National Park. If you see this species and manage to take a photo, please upload it to iNaturalist and/or send it to us directly at yukoncdc@gov.yk.ca. You will be helping us expand the scientific knowledge of this bird.

Summary ⁴

Although this duck’s rufous-red is one of its most striking field marks, the male Canvasback is not the only duck in North America with this pattern of coloration. In many parts of its range, this species occurs side by side with the closely-related Redhead (Aythya americana), and a couple field marks must be noted in order to distinguish the two. The Canvasback is slightly larger (50.8-61cm/20-24in), has a longer bill, and is much lighter on the back and flanks. Males have a red head and white body (resembling a sheet of blank canvas from a distance), while females are mostly light grayish-brown.

The Canvasback breeds primarily in the northern Great Plains, the northern Rockies, western Canada, and Alaska. Most Canvasback populations migrate south in winter to the southern two-thirds of the United States and into Mexico. In its wintering range, this species is more common inland than the Redhead. Canvasbacks breed in lakes, ponds, marshes and bays. In winter, this species utilizes similar habitats as it does during the breeding season.

In summer, Canvasbacks eat both aquatic plants and animals, such as small insects and mollusks; in winter, they feed primarily on plant matter, particularly the wild celery plant (Vallisneria americana) from which this species derives its scientific name. One of several species of “diving ducks” in North America, Redheads may be observed submerging themselves to feed on aquatic plant matter. In winter, they may also be observed in large flocks on coastal bays and lagoons.

Threat Status: Least concern

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/7457894@N04/2253464680
2. (c) Len Blumin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/2093295617/
3. (c) Yukon Conservation Data Centre, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
4. Adapted by Yukon Conservation Data Centre from a work by (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22710024

More Info

• iNaturalist.ca taxon page
• All About Birds-- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CalPhotos
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• NBN Atlas
• VertNet
• Xeno-canto
• 日本のレッドデータ検索システム

Range Map

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