Canvasback Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCanvasback
Male
Large diving duck with a sloping forehead and a stout neck. Breeding males have black chests and rears with a white body.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 12, 2011Female
Large diving duck with a sloping forehead and a stout neck. Females have pale bodies and dark chests and rears.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, January 12, 2019Breeding males
Note gracefully sloping forehead transitioning to bill, and clean white back.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, March 07, 2015Flock
In flight, note dark neck, head, and rear with white body and underwings.
© Sean Fitzgerald / Macaulay LibraryNorth Dakota, April 11, 2017Eclipse male
Nonbreeding males are browner than breeding males.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 25, 2019Female (with Redhead)
Sloping head shape and paler body distinguishes Canvasback (middle) from similar Redhead (left).
© andrew aldrich / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, March 13, 2017Female
Large brownish duck with gracefully sloping forehead and bill.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, April 02, 2017Male and female
Breeds in small lakes, deep marshes, sheltered bays of large freshwater and alkali lakes, ponds, sloughs, potholes, and shallow river impoundments.
© David Disher / Macaulay LibraryNorth Dakota, June 14, 2014Male
In flight, note male's dark head and neck contrasting with whitish back.
© Caroline Lambert / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, May 08, 2019Habitat
In winter found in deep freshwater lakes and coastal waters including brackish and saltwater estuaries, shallow bays, and harbors. Often in large groups.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 18, 2011Similar SpeciesRedhead
Breeding male
Redheads are smaller than Canvasbacks with a blue (not black) bill, a steeper forehead, and a gray (not white) back.
© Greg Gillson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 22, 2015Similar SpeciesRedhead
Female
Female Redheads have a rounder head than the gently sloping heads of Canvasbacks and a darker brown back.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 29, 2005Similar SpeciesGreater Scaup
Breeding male
Note the steeper forehead and darker back seen of Greater Scaups compared to Canvasbacks.
© Anonymous / Macaulay LibraryWest Bengal, March 05, 2017Similar SpeciesGreater Scaup
Female
Female scaup have a white spot behind the bill that female Canvasbacks lack.
© Mark Scheuerman / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 28, 2017Similar SpeciesLesser Scaup
Breeding male
Note the steeper forehead and darker back on Lesser Scaups compared to Canvasbacks.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 04, 2011Similar SpeciesLesser Scaup
Female
Female scaup have a white spot behind the bill that female Canvasbacks lack.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, March 18, 2014Similar SpeciesRing-necked Duck
Breeding male
Ring-necked Ducks have a steeper forehead and darker back compared to Canvasbacks. Also note the white spur on Ring-necked Ducks that is absent on Canvasbacks.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 11, 2012Similar SpeciesRing-necked Duck
Female
Ring-necked Ducks are smaller than Canvasbacks with a darker back and steeper forehead.
© terence zahner / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 05, 2017Search species and articles
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