Redhead Duck

Scientific name: Aytha americana
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Class: Aves

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The adult male weighs up to 0.95-1.4 kg and averages about 1.1 kg. Redhead females can reach 0.68-1.3 kg and average an estimate of 0.97 kg. The immature males range from 0.64-1.4 kg and average 0.96 kg in weight. While the immature females weigh from 0.64-1.3 kg and average 0.87 kg. The total length of the male Redheads is 7-8.5 cm long and averages 7.8 cm. Females are about 7-8 cm and average 7.4 cm. The wing lengths for a folded wing of the male and female are 23-24.2 cm, and 21-23 cm. The males tail length ranges from 64-67 mm and their tarsus is about 40-43 mm long. The measurements of a male culmen are from 45-49 mm and a females culmen is 44-47 mm. long. Redhead males have a reddish-chestnut head with a grayish color on their back and are white-breasted with a black neck and chest. The females have a brown head and back and are white-breasted with a white chin and pearl-gray wing patches. Although, these two look very different in color, they both share the same blue-gray feet and beak. Adult males are greatly spotted or flecked with white and adult females are unflecked, or in some cases can be found near the edges of their tail feathers. The juveniles have pale edges found on their tails, with the juvenile males being slightly spotted and the juvenile females unflecked. When there is a reduction of black coloration from the breast of the Redhead it can be known as an adult male. Adult females have brownish olive portions found under their tail, while juvenile females show a small portion of buffy brown. Adults are more broader and rounded, while juveniles are narrower, squared with their feathers frequently frayed. When compared to other Pochards, the Redheads bill is shorter. Its forehead and crown are set back a little higher and are more rounded as opposed to being flattened. Therefore, their heads have a puffy effect. Their shape is bulky and rounded with their legs set on the back of their bodies. This helps them when diving for food but causes awkwardness when walking. Because their legs are positioned in that manner, they are slow moving on land but are known to reach speeds over 80 km/h when flying. Redheads are known for their rounded head and yellow iris. Their abrupt foreheads and short broad bills make the Redhead stand out from other ducks.

DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:

Redhead Ducks are found in shallow freshwater lakes, ponds marshlands, coastal waters and bays. These environments are perfect for their feeding and breeding sites. During the winter season, these birds usually migrate south of their homelands and return home when the cold season is over. They are commonly found in Eurasia, North America, Madagascar, Australia and New Zealand. Major populations within the U.S. are: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Atlanta, Maryland and Delaware. Canada, South Dakota, and western Montana have the highest breeding populations of Redhead. Locations of historic populations within the U.S. include: Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio.

BEHAVIOR:

The Redhead is a diving duck that feeds in muddy shallow areas of water. They feed during the early and late hours of the day and sometimes are found feeding at night. They obtain their food, which is mostly composed of waterweed by diving in water 1-3 meters deep but they can dive as deep as 14 meters. Sometimes they feed in shallow waters where they can reach the bottom from the surface. Courtship takes place during late April to early June. To attract the females, the male throws back his head until it touches the lower back around the tail feathers. The female sometimes shows her interest by holding her head up and moving her bill in an up and down motion calling back to the male. Males have a deep "meow" or "purr", while the females have a loud "squawk" or "quack". There is no evidence that Redheads defended any part of their home range. When incubation starts, the males abandon their mates. Their male behavior seems bizarre, and it does result in a high rate of nest abandonment. Redheads are known to lay their eggs in other ducks nests including the Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Ruddy Duck and even in other Redhead nests.

DIET:

Ninety percent of their diet are plants and the other 10% are animals. Their diet consist of: pondweed seeds, tubers, leaves, muskgrass, bulrush seeds, wild celery, duckweeds, water lily seeds, sedges, grasses, wild rice, wigeon grass and coontial.

REPRODUCTION and GROWTH:

Up until the molt, the broods are considered immature and the feathers have frayed, brownish-gray pointed tips. Juvenile cannot fly until they are about 2 1/2 months old. They reach their maximum size in about 70-84 days and from there they are able to take flight. Redheads tend to breed within the first year. Their eggs average about 60.2 X 43.3 mm and have a glossy, pale olive-buff coloration. The eggs are usually incubated for about 25 days. The annual mortality rate is 80% for immatures and 40% in adults. There can be a 30% loss of broods within the first six weeks of their lives.

CONSERVATION STATUS:

The Redheads status in the wild is stable and within aviculture it is common.

WILD POPULATIONS:

The estimated size of the breeding population in North America averaged 581,000, determined from the May Surveys during 1955-1992.