Redhead duck

One of the most attractive winter ducks, Redheads have an unattractive reputation for laying their eggs in the nests of other species (especially similar-looking Canvasbacks). This may sound lazy, but really it's a brilliant strategy; if one nest gets predated, some of a Redhead's chicks will still survive elsewhere. They must have strong instincts: after being raised by a Mallard or Pintail, Shoveler or Wigeon, they still end up sounding, migrating, and behaving like a Redhead! Credit…

Redhead Duck, Bayside community Pond, Ocean City, MD 01/18/2014

Description, Average Size, Breeding, Food habits, Population, Migrating and Wintering, Hear the call of the Redhead

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Image Flying Redhead Duck | Male Redhead duck with wingtip hitting the water on take-off.

Redhead Duck from North America

With a gleaming cinnamon head setting off a body marked in black and business gray, adult male Redheads light up the open water of lakes and coastlines. These sociable ducks molt, migrate, and winter in sometimes-huge flocks, particularly along the Gulf Coast, where winter numbers can reach the thousands. Summers find them nesting in reedy ponds of the Great Plains and West. Female and young Redheads are uniform brown, with the same black-tipped, blue-gray bill as the male.

SMILING FOR THE CAMERA – A Redhead duck enjoys a bit of open water on the bay. Sent by Lois McNaught.