Aythya valisineria
In profile, the Canvasback casts a noble image: its great, sloping bill is an unmistakable field mark, even when viewed from across a pond. Despite its proud proboscis, the 'Can' is named after its clean white back, which appears to be wrapped in a sheet of canvas. This large, fast-flying duck is becoming increasingly difficult to observe in the Rockies, possibly because of habitat destruction on its Great Plains breeding grounds. The scientific name valisineria refers to one of the Canvasback's favorite foods-wild celery (Vallisneria americana). When the bird was first described by Alexander Wilson, he misspelled vallisneria by leaving out an 'l' and adding an 'i.' |
I.D.: General: head slopes upward from the bill to the forehead. Male: canvas-white back; chestnut head; black breast and hindquarters; red eyes. Female: brown head, neck and breast; grayish body. Size: L 19-22 in. (48-56 cm). Range: uncommon migrant and rare summer resident in the southern Rockies; rare migrant in the northern Rockies. Habitat: shallow wetlands, lakes and ponds with water plants. Nesting: typically on the Great Plains; basket nest is well concealed in emergent shoreline vegetation, usually suspended over the water; nest is built with reeds and grass and lined with down; female incubates 7-9 olive green eggs for up to 29 days. Feeding: dives to depths of up to 30 ft. (9.1 m), but usually 10-12 ft. (3-3.7 m); feeds on roots, tubers, the basal stems of plants (including pondweeds and wild celery) and bulrush seeds; occasionally eats aquatic invertebrates. Voice: generally quiet. Male: occasional coos and 'growls' during courtship rituals. Female: low, soft, purring quack or kuck; also 'growls.' Similar Species: Redhead: male has a gray back and a bluish bill and lacks the sloped forehead. Ring-necked Duck: female lacks the straight, sloping bill. |
