Redhead

Aythya americana

The redhead is a medium-sized diving duck. Its scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia, an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin americana, of America. The redhead is 40–56 cm (16–22 in) long with an 74–84 cm (29–33 in) wingspan; weights range from 1,030–1,080 g (36–38 oz), with males weighing an average of 1,080 g (38 oz) and females an average of 1,030 g (36 oz). It belongs to the genus Aythya, together with 11 other described species. The redhead and the common pochard form a sister group, which together are sister to the canvasback. This waterfowl is easily distinguished from most other ducks by the male's copper-colored head and pale blue bill during the breeding season; from its close relative, canvasback, it is distinguished by the more rounded head, shorter bill, and yellow, not red, eyes. The Eurasian common pochard is even more similar, but very rarely overlaps in range; it also differs in having a red eye, and a more acute, less rounded head shape. Source

Where it is now

In the last 8 weeks this bird was recorded 216 times across 21 areas (each area is a 5 degree square).

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Movement and weather

Over the weeks it was present in the past year, its centre in North America ranged from 33°N in February to 51°N in May, about 2,000 km apart.

Arrival dates

The week it was first heard regularly in each region, after at least six weeks away. Dates differ from south to north, so a region has a range.

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Figures are effort corrected and come from automatic sound identification, which makes mistakes. How this is measured and how it compares with human observers.