Redhead Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesRedhead
Male
Medium-sized diving duck with a steep forehead that meets the bill at a sharp angle. Cinnamon-red head, black chest and rear, and gray body. Bill is gray with a black tip.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, January 07, 2019Female
Medium-sized diving duck with a steep forehead and an abrupt transition to the bill. Medium brown overall with a pale face and a dark gray bill with a black tip.
© Stephen Davies / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, January 02, 2021Breeding male and female
Forms large flocks during migration and winter. Forages for plant material and invertebrates by taking them from the surface or diving below to reach submerged vegetation.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNew York, March 15, 2015Not all videos have sound
Female
In flight, wingstripe is grayish rather than white. Flies with shallower wingbeats than scaup.
© Taylor Abbott / Macaulay LibraryUtah, April 16, 2017Eclipse male
Rounded head with an abrupt angle between the forehead and bill. Nonbreeding males are brownish overall, like females, but with a warmer brown head. Dark gray bill with a black tip.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 24, 2019Male and female
Both sexes have a gray bill with a black tip.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 26, 2012(with Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, and Ring-necked Duck)
Forms large flocks with other duck species, especially in winter on lakes and coastal waters.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 27, 2015Similar SpeciesCanvasback
Breeding male
Canvasbacks are larger with a more gently sloping forehead and a whiter back than Redheads.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 12, 2011Similar SpeciesCanvasback
Female with Redhead
The Canvasback on the right is larger with a more gently sloping forehead and paler sides than the Redhead on the left.
© andrew aldrich / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, March 13, 2017Similar SpeciesGreater Scaup
Breeding male
From a distance Greater Scaup can look similar to Redheads, but they have whiter sides.
© Rajdeep Mitra / Macaulay LibraryWest Bengal, March 05, 2017Similar SpeciesGreater Scaup
Female
Female Greater Scaup have a white spot around the bill that female Redheads lack.
© Mark Scheuerman / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 28, 2017Similar SpeciesLesser Scaup
Breeding male
From a distance Lesser Scaup look similar to Redheads, but they have whiter sides.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 04, 2011Similar SpeciesLesser Scaup
Female
Female Lesser Scaup have a white spot around the bill that female Redheads lack.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, March 18, 2014Similar SpeciesRing-necked Duck
Adult male and female
Ring-necked Ducks look similar to Redheads at a distance, but they have a darker back than Redheads with a white spur on the side that Redheads lack.
© Gerrit VynWashington, March 09, 2012Similar SpeciesRing-necked Duck
Female
Female Ring-necked Ducks have a darker brown back than female Redheads. They also have a white spot around the bill that Redheads lack.
© terence zahner / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 05, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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