46-58 cm (18-23") Fairly common. Ponds, marshes, lakes, bays, estuaries. Diving duck.
Male: large, round, brick-red head; black breast and rear end; grayish sides and back; white underside; grayish blue bill with a black tip. Told from similar male Canvasback by its more rounded head, lighter bill and darker sides and back.
Female: reddish-brown body; darker brown back and wings; darker crown; light eye ring; blue-gray bill with black tip. Similar female scaups are darker with white face patches.
In flight: white belly; light gray stripe on trailing edge of gray wing.
Song: like the "meow" of a cat, quacks.
Images
![Redhead in flight](https://res-4.cloudinary.com/ebirdr/image/upload/s--6eJFWOZF--/f_auto,q_auto,t_square_crop_160/5db0a1aa652cb009ba9a48d0c01b6f29ec0b17eb.jpg)
Credit: Ray Barlow