Redhead

Description: Male redheads have a reddish brown head and neck, with black on the base of the neck, back, and chest. The rest of their backs are dark gray and the ends of the back and tail are brownish black in color. The wings have a log of light gray and dulled gray on their primary feathers. Their legs and feet are gray and the bill is usually light blue or gray, having a black tip and a white ring around the base. A unique characteristic of the mail is the call sounds like a cat’s meow. Female redheads have a similar reddish brown head and neck that also extends to the chest and a white bit under the head. They also have a ring around their eyes and a stripe behind their eyes. The sides are a lighter brown that blends with the chest. The backs are dark and dull brown and the wings are a darker brown than those of males, though very similar to a male’s. The bill is similar as well.

Breeding: Redheads will breed in the prairie states of the US and Canada and other marshes in western states. They will nest more frequently in areas without woodlands but with lots of water that is deep enough for there to be permanent aquatic plant growth that is suitable for nest building. They are the most populace of all the diving duck species in the US. The female will typically lay about 7 to 10 eggs each season and she will very often invade the nest of a canvasback.

Migrating and Wintering: The redheads will migrate over an extensive area, moving from Canadian provinces down to states along the Gulf of Mexico. Redheads will also fly to states in the northern prairie region, areas around the Great Lakes, and even further east to the Atlantic coast and down to Florida. The majority of redheads spend their winters in south and southwest Texas and northern Mexico. The rest of the populations spend their winters in Florida, the Atlantic coast states up to New England, and even the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Food habits: Redheads will dive for food, consuming a wide variety of food types. Everything from nuts to seeds to aquatic vegetation is in their diet. They will also eat small fish, mollusks, and other various invertebrates.

Popularity: 2%