Redhead

Description

The males of Redheads, as expected, have a red head. Their chest and rear are black, and the remainder of the body is gray. Female Redheads do not actually have any red coloring to them. They are brown with a black tipped, bluish-gray bill. In flight, both male and female have visible gray flight feathers.

Habitat and Status

The Redhead is casual to the Chugach Region, occurring primarily in the Copper River Delta in Prince William Sound. The Redhead population declined significantly in the mid-twentieth century, but throughout the last decade their population has increased to a stable number. Audubon climate models suggest that the breeding range of Redheads, which is in the northern Great Plains, is likely to decrease 79% by 2080. However, it may become a more common winter visitor to the Chugach Region in coming decades.

Distribution of Redhead in the Chugach Region.