Canvasback

Taxobox
name = Canvasback
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Anseriformes
familia = Anatidae
genus = "Aythya"
species = "A. valisineria"
binomial = "Aythya valisineria"
binomial_authority = (Wilson, 1814)
synonyms ="Aythya vallisneria" ("lapsus")

The Canvasback ("Aythya valisineria"), historically known in the United States as a "Sheldrake", is a large diving duck, 48-60 cm long and weighing 1270 g.

The adult male has a black bill, a red head and neck, a black breast, red eyes and a whitish body. The adult female has a brown head and body and a black bill.

Their breeding habitat is North American prairie wetlands. The bulky nest is built from vegetation in a marsh and lined with down. Loss of nesting habitat has caused populations to decline. Canvasbacks usually take new mates each year, pairing in late winter.

Canvasbacks are strongly migratory and overwinter on the coasts of the United States, the Great Lakes and British Columbia in saltwater bays, estuaries or lakes. This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

Canvasbacks feed mainly by diving, sometimes dabbling, mostly eating aquatic plants with some molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish. Wild celery, "Valisneria americana", is a favourite food and is the origin of this bird's species name.

The canvasback sometimes lays eggs in other canvasback nests.

References and external links

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canvasback.html Canvasback Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology]
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/canvasback_info.htm Canvasback Information and Photos: South Dakota Birds and Birding]
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i1470id.html Canvasback: USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter]