Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Redhead

Aythya americana

Redhead (Aythya americana) — 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 Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Canada Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United Kingdom Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United States Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories

See what's near you right now

The Redhead (Aythya americana) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Aythya
Species americana

Where it lives

Widespread

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 1.1 kg
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

Common Pochard

Aythya ferina

Least Concern

Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

Least Concern

Hardhead

Aythya australis

Least Concern

Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Redhead feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

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

Migration

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

The Redhead (Aythya americana) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 21.9 cm and a tail of around 5.6 cm.

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

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Redhead — Flight call

Recorded by Stanislas Wroza Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Redhead?

The Redhead is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.

Where does the Redhead live?

The Redhead 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 Redhead belong to?

The Redhead (Aythya americana) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Redhead eat?

The Redhead feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Redhead migrate?

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

Is the Redhead endangered?

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

What sound does the Redhead make?

1 real field recording of the Redhead — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Redhead's range?

The Redhead has a mapped global range of about 5.1 million km².