The Redhead Duck (Aythya americana) is its closest relative. Both are diving ducks of the genus Aythya, but the Canvasback is larger with a longer sloping bill and paler back.
19 to 22 in (48 to 56 cm)
Length
31 to 35 in (79 to 89 cm)
Wingspan
2.6 to 3.5 lbs (1.2 to 1.6 kg)
Weight (Male)
2.2 to 3.1 lbs (1.0 to 1.4 kg)
Weight (Female)
About
The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is a distinctive diving duck of the family Anatidae, native to North America. It is widely admired for its striking profile, with a long sloping forehead and bill, and its elegant appearance on lakes, marshes, and coastal bays. Canvasbacks breed in the prairie pothole regions of central North America and winter along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as in the Mississippi Flyway. Their seasonal migrations make them a familiar sight to birdwatchers and waterfowl hunters alike.
Measuring 48–56 cm (19–22 in) in length with a wingspan of 79–89 cm (31–35 in), the Canvasback is a relatively large duck. Males in breeding plumage are especially striking, with a chestnut-red head and neck, black chest, white back (which gives the species its name), and dark tail. Females are more subdued, with brownish heads and grayish bodies, but they share the species’ characteristic sloping bill and profile.
Canvasbacks are diving ducks, feeding primarily underwater by tipping forward and propelling themselves with their strong legs. Their diet includes aquatic plants, seeds, tubers, and roots—especially wild celery (Vallisneria americana), which was historically a staple food and gave the species its scientific name. They also consume insects, mollusks, and crustaceans, particularly during the breeding season when protein needs are higher.
Breeding occurs in freshwater wetlands with abundant emergent vegetation. Nests are built by females in dense cover, often over water, and lined with down feathers. A typical clutch contains 7–10 eggs, and the female incubates alone. Ducklings leave the nest within a day of hatching, though the mother continues to protect and guide them.
Although populations declined in the 20th century due to wetland loss and hunting pressures, conservation efforts and habitat protection have helped stabilize numbers. The Canvasback remains a symbol of North America’s wetlands, prized for both its beauty and its ecological role.
Threatened:
Extinct
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Physical Characteristics
The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is a large North American diving duck recognized by its wedge-shaped head, long sloping bill, and strong, streamlined build.
Head & Bill:
Steep, wedge-shaped profile with a long, gently sloping black bill. Males have vivid red eyes; females’ eyes are dark brown.
Plumage:
Male (breeding) shows a rich chestnut head and neck, black chest, and pale gray-white back and flanks with fine vermiculation that gives a “canvas” look. Females are overall warm brown with a paler face and gray-brown body; both sexes show darker back and tail in nonbreeding plumage.
Body & Wings:
Stout, elongated body adapted for diving. Wings are pointed and powerful for fast, direct flight.
Tail:
Short and dark, aiding streamlining underwater.
Legs & Feet:
Large, webbed feet set rearward on the body for strong propulsion while diving; awkward gait on land.
Size:
-
Length: 19 to 22 in (48 to 56 cm)
-
Wingspan: 31 to 35 in (79 to 89 cm)
-
Weight:
-
Adult Male: 2.6 to 3.5 lbs (1.2 to 1.6 kg)
-
Adult Female: 2.2 to 3.1 lbs (1.0 to 1.4 kg)
-
Built for underwater foraging, the Canvasback’s distinctive head profile, long bill, and powerful rear-set legs set it apart from other diving ducks.
Reproduction
The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) breeds in North America’s prairie potholes, marshes, and northern wetlands, with a cycle adapted to aquatic nesting and brood care.
Mating and Courtship
Courtship begins in early spring on breeding lakes and marshes. Males display with head-throwing, dipping, and rolling calls to attract females. Pair bonds typically form before or upon arrival at breeding grounds.
Breeding Season
Breeding occurs from late May through July, timed with peak aquatic vegetation growth and insect availability.
Nesting
The female alone builds a bulky, floating nest anchored to cattails, bulrushes, or sedges, often concealed among dense marsh vegetation. Nests are lined with grasses and down for insulation.
Eggs
Clutch size is usually 7 to 10 olive-gray eggs, though parasitic egg-laying (especially by Redheads) may increase the number.
Incubation
The female incubates for 24 to 29 days, rarely leaving the nest. During this time, the male generally remains nearby but does not help incubate.
Chick Development
Ducklings are precocial—hatching with down, open eyes, and the ability to walk and swim within hours. They leave the nest soon after hatching and are led to open water by the female.
Fledging and Independence
The female tends the brood, leading young to food-rich shallows. Ducklings feed themselves, mostly on aquatic insects and vegetation. Fledging occurs at 56 to 68 days of age, after which the young disperse.
The Canvasback’s floating nests and precocial chicks are adaptations to life in dense marshes, where early swimming ability and mobility provide survival advantages.
Lifespan
The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) balances high-energy diving with the hazards of marsh and lake ecosystems, leading to moderate average longevity but the potential for long-lived individuals.
Lifespan in the Wild
Typically 5–8 years for survivors that reach adulthood; many perish earlier due to predation, hunting, and harsh weather. Banding records show exceptional individuals reaching 20+ years.
Lifespan in Captivity
Seldom kept, but with steady diet and veterinary care, similar diving ducks can live 12–15+ years; Canvasbacks likely comparable in well-managed facilities.
Threats to the Canvasback
-
Habitat loss & degradation: Drainage of prairie potholes, altered water levels, and shoreline development reduce nesting and brood-rearing sites.
-
Lead exposure & hunting pressure: Ingestion of spent lead shot or fishing tackle can cause poisoning; legal non-lead use helps but legacy lead persists.
-
Disease: Outbreaks of avian botulism and other waterfowl diseases periodically cause die-offs, especially in warm, stagnant waters.
-
Predation: Eggs and ducklings face heavy predation from gulls, corvids, mink, raccoons, skunks; adults from eagles and large raptors.
-
Food-base shifts: Loss of submerged aquatic vegetation and invertebrates on key staging and wintering lakes lowers body condition and survival.
-
Climate variability: Drought cycles in breeding wetlands reduce nest success and juvenile recruitment.
Protecting and restoring large wetland complexes, maintaining clean, vegetated lakes, and eliminating lead sources all help Canvasbacks achieve longer, healthier lives.
Eating Habits
The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is a specialist diving duck whose diet tracks the seasons and the depth of food-rich lakes and marshes.
Diet
Heavy on aquatic plants—especially tubers, rhizomes, and seeds of wild celery (Vallisneria), sago pondweed, wild rice, and wigeon grass. In breeding season it adds more animal prey: aquatic insects, snails, mussels, amphipods, and other small crustaceans for protein.
Foraging Strategy
Primarily a diver, not a dabbler. It propels with powerful, rear-set feet, forages on or just above the bottom, and plucks tubers and shoots. In shallows it may tip-up briefly, but most feeding happens underwater.
Dive Performance
Typical dives last several seconds to half a minute, followed by short surface intervals. Birds often work repeatedly over the same submerged plant beds until disturbed or the patch is depleted.
Daily Rhythm
Flexible—feeds by day on quiet waters and often at night on staging and wintering lakes, especially when human disturbance is high or competition is intense.
Seasonal Shifts
-
Spring migration: carbohydrate-rich tubers and seeds to rebuild fat for breeding.
-
Breeding: more invertebrates to support egg formation and duckling growth.
-
Fall & winter: returns to plant-dominated foods where submerged vegetation is abundant.
Social Feeding
Frequently forages in loose rafts, sometimes with other diving ducks (e.g., Redheads, scaup). Individuals can be assertive at dense food patches but generally tolerate neighbors while the resource lasts.
Energy Demands
Diving, cold water, and migration drive high caloric needs. Birds select efficient feeding sites—deep plant beds and sheltered bays—to minimize time on the surface and maximize intake underwater.
Uniqueness
The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) stands out among North American diving ducks for its specialized build, diet, and dramatic mass gatherings.
Wedge-shaped profile
A long, uninterrupted slope from forehead to bill creates a distinctive wedge head—an instant field mark even at distance.
Tuber specialist
Built for prying and plucking submerged plant parts, especially the tubers and rhizomes of wild celery. Its species name, valisineria, honors Vallisneria—the plant that historically fueled huge flocks.
Floating architect
Females craft bulky, floating nests anchored to cattails or bulrushes—an adaptation to deep, wave-swept marshes where ground nests would flood.
Power diver, strong flyer
Rear-set legs and dense musculature drive efficient, bottom-oriented dives; the streamlined body and pointed wings deliver fast, direct flights over big water.
Rafting spectacles
On migration and in winter, Canvasbacks form large, tight rafts on big lakes and bays, often mixed with Redheads and scaup—an iconic waterfowl scene.
Brood-parasitism target
Frequently hosts Redhead eggs, which can swell clutch sizes and affect hatch success—an unusual, well-known interspecific dynamic.
“Canvas” back & red eyes
Drake’s pale, finely vermiculated back contrasts with a rich chestnut head and red eyes—one of the most striking male patterns among diving ducks.
Wetland health barometer
Numbers rise and fall with submerged aquatic vegetation; shifts in water clarity, depth, and plant beds quickly echo in Canvasback use of a site.
Be the First to Share Photos of This National Park.
FAQ’s
1. What species is closest to the Canvasback?
2. How does the Canvasback compare to other ducks?
Unlike dabbling ducks, Canvasbacks are powerful divers, built for feeding on submerged tubers and invertebrates. Their wedge-shaped head, red eyes, and striking male plumage set them apart.
3. What national parks provide the best opportunities for seeing a Canvasback?
Top U.S. parks include Yellowstone National Park (breeding wetlands), Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge (a critical migration stop), and Chesapeake Bay areas near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge(wintering flocks).