Canvasback

Aythya valisineria Order: ANSERIFORMES Family: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
Canvasback Portrait
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General

Canvasback: Large, flashy diving duck with pale gray body and black breast and tail. Head is red-brown with long, sloping profile and long, dark bill. Female has gray breast and brown head. Juvenile resembles female; eclipse male resembles breedng male but is duller.

Range and Habitat

Canvasback: Breeds from Alaska south and east to Nebraska and Minnesota. Spends winters in coastal regions and interior west from British Columbia south and east from Massachusetts south to the Gulf coast and in Mississippi Valley. Nests on marshes; winters on lakes, bays, and estuaries.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"grunt", "croak"

Interesting Facts

 The Canvasback is a very good flier and can reach speeds of up to 70 mph.

 One of the largest North American diving ducks, it gets its name from its pale gray back and white sides which are delicately dotted and lined in a wavelike pattern resembling canvas fabric.

 Because they strain many seeds with their bill out of bottom mud, they ingest much lead shot and are especially affected by lead poisoning in areas that are heavily hunted.

 A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Canvasback

Related Birds

Lesser Scaup
Ring-necked Duck
Redhead
Common Merganser
Tufted Duck
Common Pochard
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Family Diving Ducks (Anatidae)_blue
Species Aythya valisineria
Length19 - 24 Inches
Wingspan32 Inches

Canvasback

Canvasback: Large, flashy diving duck with pale gray body and black breast, tail. Head is red-brown with long, sloping profile and long, dark bill. Eye is red. Legs and feet are gray. Feeds primarily on aquatic plants. Rapid direct flight with strong wing beats. Flies high, usually in V formations.

● Song: "grunt", "croak"

● Foraging & Feeding: Canvasback: Feeds on aquatic vegetation, particularly wild celery, and mollusks. Forages in open water by diving from the surface; feeds by day or night.

● Breeding & nesting: Canvasback: Seven to twelve gray olive or green olive eggs are laid in a floating nest made of reeds and grass anchored to stems of marsh plants. Incubation ranges from 23 to 29 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Canvasback: Redhead is smaller and lacks sloping profile; males have grayer sides.

Flight Pattern

Swift, sometimes erratic, direct flight.
Canvasback Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Canvasback: Breeds from Alaska south and east to Nebraska and Minnesota. Spends winters in coastal regions and interior west from British Columbia south and east from Massachusetts south to the Gulf coast and in Mississippi Valley. Nests on marshes; winters on lakes, bays, and estuaries.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationCommon to uncommon
MigrationMigratory
Weight44.8 Ounces