Redhead (Aythya americana)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Redhead

Aythya americana (Eyton, 1838)

1.1 kgWeight

The redhead (Aythya americana) is a medium-sized diving duck.

Busiest months: January and March–April · Most records: United States, Canada, Mexico

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: January and March–April · Most records: United States, Canada, Mexico

Redhead has been recorded at 660 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 15 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Canoa Ranch Conservation ParkUnited States10,063 records
  2. Tommy Thompson ParkCanada9,110 records
  3. Baie-du-FebvreCanada7,723 records
More places
  1. Henderson Bird Viewing PreserveUnited States6,040 records
  2. South Padre Is. – Birding and Nature CenterUnited States6,018 records
  3. Calgary – Carburn ParkCanada5,340 records
  4. Hornsby BendUnited States4,952 records
  5. South Padre Is. – WBC/Conv. Center/Laguna Madre TrailUnited States4,611 records
  6. Piute PondsUnited States4,353 records
  7. St. Marks NWRUnited States4,352 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United StatesCanadaMexicoPortugalBermudaHondurasUnited KingdomBahamas

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The redhead (Aythya americana) is a medium-sized diving duck. Its scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia, an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin americana, of America. The redhead is 40–56 cm (16–22 in) long with an 74–84 cm (29–33 in) wingspan; weights range from 1,030–1,080 g (36–38 oz), with males weighing an average of 1,080 g (38 oz) and females an average of 1,030 g (36 oz).

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Redhead?

The Redhead weighs around 1.1 kg.

Where does the Redhead live?

Its breeding range: North America: widespread. It is most often recorded in United States, Canada and Mexico.

When is the best time to see the Redhead?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, March and April (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Redhead endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Redhead as Least Concern.

What does the Redhead eat?

Main food: Aquatic plants.

What family is the Redhead in?

It belongs to the family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae), order Anseriformes.

At a glance

Weight
1.1 kg
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Aquatic plants
Lifestyle
On the water surface
Migration
Migratory
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
219 mm
Tail
56 mm
Bill
50 mm
Tarsus
36 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

North America: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Ducks, Geese, Swans Anatidae
Genus
Aythya

Other birds in the genus Aythya

CanvasbackCanvasbackAythya valisineriaCommon PochardCommon PochardAythya ferinaHardheadHardheadAythya australisMadagascar PochardMadagascar PochardAythya innotataBaer's PochardBaer's PochardAythya baeriFerruginous DuckFerruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNew Zealand ScaupNew Zealand ScaupAythya novaeseelandiaeRing-necked DuckRing-necked DuckAythya collarisTufted DuckTufted DuckAythya fuligulaGreater ScaupGreater ScaupAythya marilaLesser ScaupLesser ScaupAythya affinis
Redhead

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by John Clare. ↗

WebP · 1070 px

Heard it but can't see it? Mingji identifies birds by sound and photo, on your phone.

In other languages