Skip to main content

Photo: Dick Daniels (https://carolinabirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Canvasback

Aythya valisineria

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists
Birds of CanadaBirds of the United KingdomBirds of the United StatesBirds of AlbertaBirds of British ColumbiaBirds of ManitobaBirds of New BrunswickBirds of Newfoundland and LabradorBirds of Nova ScotiaBirds of Northwest Territories
By family
Ducks, Geese & Swans of CanadaDucks, Geese & Swans of the United KingdomDucks, Geese & Swans of the United StatesDucks, Geese & Swans of AlbertaDucks, Geese & Swans of British ColumbiaDucks, Geese & Swans of ManitobaDucks, Geese & Swans of New BrunswickDucks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and LabradorDucks, Geese & Swans of Nova ScotiaDucks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories
See what's near you right now

The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)
LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Anseriformes
  3. Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
  4. Genus Aythya
  5. Species valisineria

Where it lives

Widespread

Quick facts

Weight
1.2 kg
Diet
Aquatic plant-eaters
Family
Anatidae
Order
Anseriformes
Habitat
Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Canvasback feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Canvasback is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 22.4 cm and a tail of around 5.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.7 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Canvasback?

The Canvasback is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.

Where does the Canvasback live?

The Canvasback is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Canvasback belong to?

The Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Canvasback eat?

The Canvasback feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Canvasback migrate?

The Canvasback is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Canvasback endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

How large is the Canvasback's range?

The Canvasback has a mapped global range of about 3.7 million km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Anatidae

More in Waterbirds

Back to top