North American field guide
Redhead
Aythya americana
Identification
Field notes
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.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
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.
Redhead (Female)
1 ruleRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 3
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · 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 ?
- Short · 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
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like
Redhead (Male)
1 ruleRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 3
- 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 ?
- Short · 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
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like