Canvasback

Aythya valisineria

Also known as:Sheldrake

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

51-61 cm (20-24") Locally common. Summers on prairie lakes and marshes; winters on lakes, bays. Large diving duck with a distinctive sloping forehead and long bill.

Male: reddish-brown head; black breast and rear end; white sides and back; white underside; blackish bill. In flight, flattened head and long bill profile; white belly contrasts with black breast and black undertail coverts; lacks contrasting pale wing stripe of Redhead.

Female: pale brown head and neck; grayish body; long black bill. In flight, flattened head and long bill profile; white belly and underwing linings contrasts with dark breast; lacks contrasting pale wing stripe of Redhead.

Song: grunts or croaks, quacks.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Carol Foil

Credit: shell game

Credit: Greg Schneider

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

P1420292 2012-12-30 11.04.48 STX95 Canvasback diving

Credit: Tara Tanaka

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Canvasback (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 3

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:743-canvasback-female:1:1 Source: 743 Canvasback (Female), row 1

Canvasback (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 3

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:742-canvasback-male:1:1 Source: 742 Canvasback (Male), row 1