General

Canvasback: Large, flashy diving duck with pale gray body and black breast and tail. Head is red-brown with long, sloping profile and long, dark bill. Female has gray breast and brown head. Juvenile resembles female; eclipse male resembles breedng male but is duller.

Range and Habitat

Canvasback: Breeds from Alaska south and east to Nebraska and Minnesota. Spends winters in coastal regions and interior west from British Columbia south and east from Massachusetts south to the Gulf coast and in Mississippi Valley. Nests on marshes; winters on lakes, bays, and estuaries.

Breeding and Nesting

Canvasback: Seven to twelve gray olive or green olive eggs are laid in a floating nest made of reeds and grass anchored to stems of marsh plants. Incubation ranges from 23 to 29 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Canvasback: Feeds on aquatic vegetation, particularly wild celery, and mollusks. Forages in open water by diving from the surface; feeds by day or night.

Vocalization

Canvasback: Male grunts or croaks. Female makes a soft quack.

Similar Species

Canvasback: Redhead is smaller and lacks sloping profile; males have grayer sides.