Canvasback

Description

Canvasbacks have a long, sloping forehead that continues down to the long, black bill. The females have light-colored bodies with a darker-colored chest and behind. Male Canvasbacks have a white body and black chest and rear but a copper-colored head and a red eye. Canvasbacks have small tails that dip into the water when they’re swimming. Canvasbacks are larger ducks that need a running start to get airborne, but once they’re in flight, they can reach speeds up to 56 mph.

Habitat and Status

The Canvasback is an uncommon migrant and a local breeder in the Chugach Region, particularly on the Copper River Delta. Canvasbacks are found in lakes, ponds, and marshes during the breeding season. They prefer bodies of water with heavy vegetation surrounding them to use as camouflage, where the females will build nests of bulky vegetation, sometimes loosely wrapping it around standing stalks of plants. Audubon models suggest Canvasbacks will become even less frequent visitors as their populations shift northward and eastward in response to a warming climate.

Distribution of Canvasback in the Chugach Region