Aythya americana
The Redhead, *Aythya americana*, is a striking medium-sized diving duck easily identified by its distinctive appearance. Males boast a rusty-red head and neck, a black chest, and a contrasting gray body, with a pale blue bill tipped in black. Females are more subtly attired in brownish-gray plumage, often displaying a darker crown and a dusky bill that sometimes features a faint white patch at its base. With a length typically ranging from 42-56 cm (17-22 in) and a wingspan of 79-89 cm (31-35...
Primarily found in freshwater wetlands like prairie potholes, marshes, and shallow lakes during breeding season, shifting to coastal bays, estuaries, and large inland lakes for wintering. Generally found in low elevation aquatic environments.
Mainly consumes aquatic vegetation, including seeds, stems, and tubers of submerged plants, supplemented by aquatic invertebrates like insect larvae, mollusks, and crustaceans. Primarily forages by diving.
Redheads are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and engaging in social behaviors, typically roosting on open water or sheltered shorelines at night. Their primary foraging strategy involves diving, using their strong feet for propulsion to reach submerged aquatic vegetation and invert...
The Redhead exhibits a wide distribution across North America, centered on its primary breeding grounds in the prairie pothole region, encompassing central Canada and the northern Great Plains of the United States (e.g., North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota). Breeding also occurs in the...
Least Concern
- The Redhead is one of the most frequent avian brood parasites in North America, often laying eggs in the nests of Canvasbacks. - Males undergo an 'eclipse plumage' in summer, temporarily losing their vibrant red head and black chest, resembling the duller females. - Despite their diving ability...