Redhead
Aythya americana
DescriptionPrimarily resting during the day, Redheads do most of their feeding at night. Redheads are both diving and dabbling ducks. They primarily feed on plant material.
General: 18 to 22 inches in length.
Adult Male Alternate: Brick-red head and neck. Pale blue bill with a black tip bordered with white. Yellow-orange eyes. Black breast and tail. Grayish back and flanks. Whitish belly. Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer.
Adult Male Basic: Similar to alternate, except plumage is duller, especially around the breast and back.
Adult Female: Brown plumage. Whitish belly. Brown eyes. Dark bill with black tip.
Immature: Immature male is similar to female during autumn, and has alternate plumage during winter. Immature female is similar to adult female.
Lakes and bays. Nests in marshes.
Nesting10-16 buff eggs with a 24-28 day incubation period. Fledging occurs 56-73 days after hatching. The nest is a woven cup made from reeds and lined with down. It is attached to marsh vegetation.
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