Canvasback

The Canvasback is the largest of the North American diving ducks in the genus Aythya, known for its distinctively long, sloping profile where the forehead blends smoothly into a long, straight black bill without any break at the crown. The breeding drake has a rich chestnut-red head and neck, a black breast and rump, and a body so pale gray-white it resembles unbleached canvas fabric, the source of the species' name.

Females share the same sloping head profile but are colored in soft grayish-brown tones with a paler body. The unique head shape makes the species identifiable at a distance even when color details are hard to discern.

Key Field Marks

• Long, sloping forehead profile blending smoothly into a long black bill, without a break at the crown
• Breeding drake: chestnut-red head and neck, black breast and rump, pale grayish-white body
• Female: same sloping profile in soft grayish-brown tones
• Red eye (drake) versus dark eye (female)

Similar Species

The Redhead has a similar chestnut head but a rounded (not sloping) forehead and a shorter, blue-gray bill with a black tip, plus a gray (not whitish) body. The Canvasback's uniquely long, straight head-to-bill profile is the most reliable field mark separating the two species.

Canvasbacks breed primarily in the prairie pothole region of the north-central United States and south-central Canada, favoring deep, permanent marshes with abundant submerged vegetation, particularly wild celery (Vallisneria), for which the species is named. They winter on large lakes, reservoirs, and coastal bays and estuaries across the United States, with major wintering concentrations historically on Chesapeake Bay and other large coastal water bodies.

The species is a strong, fast flier, often traveling in tight V-formations during migration between breeding and wintering grounds.

Canvasbacks are diving ducks, feeding by diving underwater to reach submerged tubers, seeds, and vegetation such as wild celery, along with mollusks and other invertebrates, particularly on wintering grounds in coastal bays. They typically dive in deeper water than dabbling ducks, often exceeding 20 feet.

The male's call is a soft, cooing note during courtship, generally quieter than many other ducks, while females give a low, croaking quack. Canvasbacks nest over water in dense emergent marsh vegetation, building a substantial platform nest anchored to reeds or cattails, with females incubating 7-12 eggs alone.