Redhead (Aythya americana): Identification, Habitat, and Field Guide
November 6, 2026
The Redhead (Aythya americana) is a medium-sized diving duck in the family Anatidae, easily recognized by the male's copper-colored head, orange-yellow eyes, and pale blue bill with a black tip. Females are duller, with yellowish-brown heads. They breed in shallow freshwater marshes and prairie potholes, requiring water at least 28 inches deep for diving, and migrate to coastal bays and large inland lakes for winter.
Adult male Redhead in breeding plumage, photographed at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico.
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Redhead
Breeding male: copper head, black breast, grey body. Rounded copper head: rounder than a Canvasback's head. Yellow eye: Canvasback and Common Pochard have red eyes. Pale blue bill, black tip: a thin pale ring separates the two colours. Black breast, grey back: back and sides grey, not white. Round copper head and grey back: not a Canvasback. Females are brown with brown eyes; non-breeding males have brown heads.
Females are brown with brown eyes; non-breeding males have brown heads.
Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; labels added by BirdBot.
Identification: Field Marks and Plumage
Identifying Redheads relies heavily on head color and bill shape, particularly when distinguishing them from similar diving ducks like the Canvasback.
Male Redhead
Head: Distinctive copper or rufous-red color.
Eyes: Bright orange-yellow.
Bill: Pale blue with a black tip and a white ring around the tip.
Body: Greyish back and flanks, blackish chest and tail, white breast, and whitish belly with dusty undertones.
Feet: Bluish-grey.
Female Redhead
Head: Yellowish-brown, slightly darker on the crown.
Eyes: Brown with a slight pale ring.
Bill: Pale blue with a black tip and white ring, similar to the male but often appearing duller.
Body: Dark greyish-brown body and tail, whitish belly fading into greyish-brown, and brownish-grey wings.
Similar Species: Canvasback
The Canvasback is the most common look-alike. While both have blue bills, the Canvasback has a longer, sloping forehead and a blackish bill tip that is less distinct than the Redhead's. The Redhead's head is more rounded and coppery, whereas the Canvasback's head is more elongated and greyish-brown.
Habitat and Range
Redheads are wetland-dependent species. Their habitat requirements are specific, particularly regarding water depth.
Breeding Habitat: Shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, and marshes. The Prairie Pothole region is a critical breeding area, where seasonal snowmelt and rain fill potholes with freshwater. Dense vegetation in marshes provides cover.
Water Depth: Water must be at least 28 inches deep to allow for effective diving.
Winter Habitat: Brackish coastal bays, estuaries, and large inland lakes. They may also be found on the seashore.
Range: Breeds from Alaska to the southern USA; winters to Guatemala and the Greater Antilles.
Behavior and Migration
Redheads are excellent divers, using this ability to forage for food on the bottom of water bodies. They are highly migratory, moving south by September and returning north in March for breeding.
Flight and Landing
Their flight is distinctive. Redheads migrate in V-formations at high speeds. Their wingbeats are rapid, which can make their flight appear erratic. When landing, they may circle a target area, descend in a zigzag pattern, and splash into the water. Takeoff is often hurried and confusing, with the flock appearing as a muddled mass before gliding into the air.
Social Structure
Redheads can be found singly, in pairs, or in small flocks of 5 to 15. At popular wintering areas, flocks can number in the hundreds or thousands. They demonstrate homing behavior but may also pioneer new breeding areas.
Diet and Foraging
Redheads are primarily herbivorous but adjust their diet based on life stage and availability.
General Diet: Mainly vegetable matter, including aquatic plants (shoalgrass, pondweeds, muskgrass, sedges, grasses, wild celery, duckweeds, water lilies) and mollusks (snails).
Foraging Technique: Dives to the bottom to feed on plants and mollusks; dabbles on the surface of shallow marshes for insects.
Pre-Laying Diet: Females increase animal matter intake to about 77% of their diet before egg-laying to boost protein levels. Animal foods include grasshoppers, caddisflies, midges, water fleas, scuds, and water boatmen.
Duckling Diet: About half animal matter to support growth.
Nesting and Reproduction
Redheads begin nesting in midsummer in marshes and potholes. Nest sites are often over water, supported by dense vegetation, or on dry land near water. The nest is deeply hollowed and lined with a thick layer of down, constructed primarily from hardstem bulrush and cattails.
Egg-Laying Strategies
Redheads exhibit three egg-laying behaviors:
Normal: The hen lays and incubates her own eggs.
Semiparasitic: The hen lays her own eggs and also deposits eggs in other nests.
Parasitic: The hen lays all her eggs in another duck's nest, sometimes of a different species. These eggs often do not hatch because they are out of sync with the host's incubation schedule.
On average, a female lays one egg per day, with skips before the clutch is complete. Only about 52% of nests result in hatched eggs.
Voice
The female emits a low kuk-kuk-kuk sound right before the eggs hatch. This call is critical for imprinting, teaching ducklings to follow her.
Conservation Status
The Redhead is listed as Least Concern (LC) in the AviList v2026 checklist. Historically, the species faced significant population pressures in the 1970s due to habitat degradation in the Chesapeake Bay area, including agricultural runoff, pollution, and the impact of Hurricane Agnes. Conservation efforts, such as the establishment of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 1908 and state preservation programs in Maryland and Virginia, have helped protect breeding and migrating waterfowl. Hunting regulations have also been enacted to prevent overhunting.
How to Find and Observe Redheads Ethically
Observing Redheads requires patience and an understanding of their habitat preferences.
Best Locations: Shallow freshwater marshes and prairie potholes in spring and early summer. Coastal bays and large inland lakes in winter.
Field Tip: Watch for the rapid, erratic flight pattern before landing. Listen for the female's kuk-kuk-kuk call near nesting sites in late spring.
Ethical Observation: Maintain a distance to avoid disturbing nesting or feeding activities. Use binoculars or a spotting scope. Avoid approaching nests, as Redheads may desert their young if disturbed.
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