Canvasbacks

Photos: Mike Davis

“The sighting of a Canvasback duck is always a treat on my photographic trips.”

Mike Davis

The largest of the diving ducks, the Canvasback is endemic to North America and is one of the most well-studied waterfowl species. As the largest ducks in the genus Aythya, the males are easily recognized by their chestnut-colored red heads and the distinctive white or canvas-colored flanks and back.

Canvasbacks follow well-known migration patterns along major flyways. Leaving Alaska or Canada, they are among the last ducks to depart the north on their migration south, with peak numbers arriving in the lower 48 and Mexico in January. Spring migration returning north usually begins in February.

The Cornell Lab All About Birds—https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canvasback/maps-range

Canvasbacks are among the fastest-flying ducks, with a normal airspeed of 30-55 mph, achieving much higher speeds with a tailwind.

Commercial hunting in Chesapeake Bay came close to decimating the Canvasback population. They are considered the tastiest of all ducks, and their large size made them a prime target for market hunters. The market hunters used giant “punt” guns to harvest Canvasbacks by the thousands. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 outlawed market hunting, but the Chesapeake Bay population has failed to show significant population increases. Hurricane Agnes in 1972 devastated the wild celery beds in Chesapeake Bay, which is the prime feeding source for the ducks.

Populations over the long term are improving in all flyway areas. Central Flyway Canvasback populations show that 95% of the population winters in Texas. Recreational hunting has played a major role in this restoration. Challenges still remain, with the primary concern for all waterfowl being the loss of wetland habitat. Population estimates for the Canvasback range from a low of 360,200 in 1962 to a high of 864,900 in 2017.

Canvasbacks are large, regal birds with distinctive white body markings, a red head, and a long, sloping bill.

Enjoy the sight of this beautiful duck.

References:

Guy Baldassarre, Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America Volume 2. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. Published by the Wildlife Management Institute.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canvasback/maps-range