Ducks come in a variety of colors and patterns, but a white duck with a red head is most likely the Redhead duck (Aythya americana). The Redhead is a medium-sized diving duck that breeds in North America. As the name suggests, the male has a round, burgundy red head and neck, while the rest of the body is gray with a light brown chest. The female is brown overall with a gray-brown head and a face mask that includes a yellow eye ring. Both sexes have bright blue bills.
Quick Answer
The duck species with a white body and red head is most likely the Redhead duck (Aythya americana). This medium-sized diving duck breeds in North America and can be identified by the male’s burgundy red head and neck and gray-white body. The female is brown overall with a gray-brown head.
Identifying Features of the Redhead Duck
Here are some key identifying features of the Redhead duck:
- Male has a round, burgundy red head and neck, with a gray body and light brown chest
- Female has an overall brown plumage with a gray-brown head
- Bright blue bill on both male and female
- Yellow eye ring on female
- Medium-sized, between 17-21 inches long
- Stocky body shape
- Diving duck species
- Breeds in prairie potholes and marshy wetlands of North America
The combination of the male’s distinctly red head and neck with the gray-white body plumage makes the Redhead duck easy to identify. The female can be differentiated from other female ducks by her gray-brown head that contrasts against the overall brown plumage. When in flight, the Redhead duck shows off bright white underwings with a white belly.
Range and Habitat
The Redhead duck has a large breeding range across North America. Their breeding habitat centers around the prairie pothole region, which spans from central Canada down to Iowa and eastern Montana in the United States. They primarily nest in freshwater marshes and wetlands that have dense emergent vegetation cover. During the winter, Redheads migrate south to the Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, California, and northern Mexico. They winter in coastal marshes, estuaries, and bays.
Within their breeding range, Redhead ducks can be found on these types of water bodies:
- Shallow prairie marshes
- Freshwater wetlands
- Ponds
- Lakes
- River sloughs
- Flooded agricultural fields
During winter, Redheads frequent:
- Saltwater marshes
- Bays
- Estuaries
- Coastal lakes and ponds
Behavior and Diet
Redhead ducks are highly social birds that gather in large flocks, especially during winter and migration. They are an aggressive species known to chase and steal food from other diving ducks. Their diet consists primarily of plant material obtained by diving to the bottom of lakes and ponds. During breeding season, they mainly eat aquatic plants like pondweeds, widgeon grass, and bulrushes. In winter, they switch to marine plants such as eelgrass, algae, and seeds from salt marsh plants. Redheads also eat mollusks, aquatic invertebrates, and some aquatic insects to provide protein and nutrients, especially for females during the breeding season.
Feeding Behavior
To forage for food, Redheads dive underwater. They can submerge 30 feet or more to reach bottom vegetation. Equipped with strong legs set far back on their body, Redheads can effectively propel themselves underwater. Their dives last around 30 seconds as they rip up stems, rhizomes, and leaves of aquatic plants. Redheads also dabble at the surface to reach just below the surface. While diving, they tilt their tail upward, which exposes the bright white undertail that is useful for recognizing individuals.
Courtship
Redheads form pair bonds through an elaborate courtship ritual in early spring after migrating back to breeding grounds. Males compete for females through displays of head pumping, neck stretching, whistling calls, and aggressive fighting. Male courtship displays also include a “bowsprit,” where he swims in front of the female with his head and neck stretched forward over the water. If interested, the female responds by swimming low in the water back towards the male. Once paired, Redhead couples stay together only until their eggs hatch, after which males leave females to care for the ducklings.
Nesting and Ducklings
Female Redheads build nests on the ground in dense marsh vegetation, often far from water. The nests are bowls lined with vegetation down and feathers. Females lay 9-11 eggs that incubate for around 24 days until hatching. The downy ducklings leave the nest shortly after hatching to follow their mother to open water areas. Mother Redheads protect and care for their young, often joining together in crèches with other broods. The ducklings fledge at around 7-9 weeks old.
Conservation Status
Redhead duck populations declined in the early 20th century due to hunting pressure and wetland habitat loss. Conservation actions like harvest restrictions helped populations rebound. However, habitat loss in prairie breeding grounds remains a concern. The Redhead duck has an estimated population of 1 million birds in North America. They are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Population Threats
Here are some key threats facing Redhead duck populations today:
- Draining and degradation of prairie wetlands for agriculture
- Drought conditions reducing available breeding habitat
- Climate change exacerbating droughts and habitat loss
- Contaminants from agricultural runoff
- Overharvesting in some regions
- Disturbance and habitat loss in coastal wintering areas
Conservation Actions
Various conservation measures have been implemented to protect Redhead duck populations and habitat:
- Legal harvest restrictions to prevent overhunting
- Protection and restoration of prairie wetlands
- Ensuring adequate water supply to key breeding habitats
- Monitoring and managing contaminants in wetlands
- Protected wintering reserves along the coasts
- International cooperation on management with Mexico
Continued habitat conservation and harvest management will be key for maintaining healthy Redhead duck populations across North America.
Comparison to Other Duck Species
The white and red coloration of male Redhead ducks makes them stand out from other diving ducks. Here is how Redheads compare to some similar species:
Ring-necked Duck
- Male has black back, pale gray sides, black head with white ring around neck
- Smaller size around 16 inches long
- Female is grayish overall with brown head
- More common in forested wetlands than grassy marshes
Canvasback
- Male has white body, chestnut red head, and sloping long black bill
- Larger size around 22 inches long
- Female is light brown overall with paler head
- Feeds more on mollusks than vegetation
Ruddy Duck
- Male has reddish-brown body, black cap, and bright blue bill
- Smaller around 15 inches long
- Female is drab gray-brown overall
- Stiff tail often cocked upward
The Redhead’s unique red head and medium size make it straightforward to identify among other diving duck species. Taking note of plumage patterns, size, habitat, and behavior are key to telling ducks apart in areas where multiple species occur.
Conclusion
The duck species identified by a white body and rich, red-colored head is the Redhead duck. Males exhibit the bright red head and neck paired with gray-white plumage. Females show an overall brown appearance with a paler gray-brown head. Redheads breed in wetlands across the North American prairies and migrate to coastal areas for winter. They forage for aquatic plants by diving, using their specialized adaptations. Conservation efforts focus on protecting vital wetland habitats. Comparing features like size, plumage patterns, behavior, and preferred habitat can help distinguish the Redhead duck from other diving duck species.
Species | Length | Male Plumage | Female Plumage | Preferred Habitat |
---|---|---|---|---|
Redhead Duck | 17-21 in | Red head and neck, gray body | Brown overall with gray-brown head | Prairie marshes |
Ring-necked Duck | 16 in | Black back, pale gray sides, black head with white ring | Grayish brown overall | Forested wetlands |
Canvasback | 22 in | Chestnut red head, white body | Light brown overall | Marsh lakes and ponds |
Ruddy Duck | 15 in | Reddish-brown body, black cap | Drab gray-brown | Marshy wetlands |
This table compares the Redhead duck to several similar diving duck species, highlighting key identification features such as size, plumage, habitat preferences, and characteristics.
Breeding Range
The Redhead duck breeds across the prairie pothole region of North America. This map shows their primary breeding range:
Key:
- Dark purple – Primary breeding range
- Light purple – Secondary breeding range
As illustrated on the map, the core of the Redhead breeding range centers on the prairie pothole region, spanning from central Canada through parts of the central United States. Lighter scattered breeding occurs outside this main area as well.
Wintering Areas
During winter, Redhead ducks migrate from their prairie breeding grounds to various wintering sites, primarily on coastal areas of North America. Major wintering areas include:
- Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas
- Central California
- Chesapeake Bay
- Carolinas coast
- Florida
- Northern Mexico along the Laguna Madre
On the Gulf Coast, the Laguna Madre of Texas and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge host huge concentrations of over 150,000 Redhead ducks in winter. These prime wetlands provide ample food supplies for the birds to fuel up before migrating back to the breeding grounds.
Population Status
Here is a table summarizing the population status and trends for the Redhead duck in North America:
Population Estimate | Population Trend | Conservation Status |
---|---|---|
1 million | Increasing | Least Concern |
Key takeaways:
- Estimated population is around 1 million birds
- Populations stable and increasing over past decades
- Listed as Least Concern by IUCN Red List due to large range and populations
After population declines in the early 1900s, conservation measures helped Redhead ducks rebound. Ongoing habitat and harvest management will be important for maintaining healthy numbers.