I had a customer bring me a duck that I am having trouble identifying. In the USWS "Ducks at a Distance" book it is either a Canvasback or Eclipse Drake Redhead. I have looked at the wing ID also and even searced on this site, the orange button...maybe I missed something. Is there a single identifying factor that differentiates these two ducks. The head and bill shape certainly favor the redhead, but then the wing ID...could go either way. Thanks for any assistance.
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Canvasback's bill on the drake is always black and hen might have some slight grey on it but mostly black.Redhead drake and hen will almost always have a slight white ring and either a grayish or light blueish color to the bill.Also canvasbacks bill's are more elongate and wedge shaped as the redheads are a sloped bill.Hope this helps.
There is absolutely no way that there should be any confusion. The bills of canvasback and redhead are completely different. The canvasback is very destinctive, the only thing even close would be a pochard, which you are extremely unlikely to encounter.
Redheads can sometimes be confused with the scaup and ringneck duck, especially immatures. Even then the speculum is descinctive enough to identify it.
Drake canvasback has red eyes. Redhead drake has yellow/hazel eyes. Suggest enjoying a better duck book.
Thanks to all for your assistance. Is the head plumage on an adult redhead "fire engine" red? This bird, in the eclipe stage, is a maroon color like tha photos of the canvasback.
.....It's an eclipse stage bird. The color of a redhead's head is closer to a canvasback than "fire engine red"! In ecliple they look pretty much like a hen. You NEED a NEW bird identification book!
Even a Redhead shot in Texas in January doesn't have a "fire engine red" color like the illustrated books show...They are much closer to a Canvasback!