Canvasback: A Well Dressed Duck

Canvasbacks are notoriously difficult to photograph because the don't usually allow close approach by people before they quickly take flight. I've always wanted to get decent photographs of these visitors to Utah. The males look as if they are dressed for a formal event with their clean white tux, black tie, and chestnut colored head dress. The black rump and tail finish the look as if they were black dress shoes. Their bright red eyes, sloped forehead, and tapered black bill further enhance their sharp appearance.

I've been watching some Canvasbacks on a small community pond in Highland Glen Park for a couple of months. This little park is just two miles from my home so it provides a great opportunity for quick birding experiences. I thought the recent Canvasbacks were just passing through on migration, but a few of them have hung around for months. The first few times I attempted photos I was unsuccessful in terms of getting the clarity I wanted. However, a recent visit allowed me to capture the images below.

Male Canvasback on Highland Glen Park Pond in Highland, Utah (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Canvasback on Highland Glen Park Pond in Highland, Utah (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Canvasback on Highland Glen Park Pond in Highland, Utah (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Like most bird species, the male Canvasback is much more colorful and more easily recognized than its female counterpart. Below is an image of a female Canvasback found on another community pond in Sandy, Utah. While the colors are quite different, you can still see the unique Canvasback profile--the forehead slopes straight into the tapered bill.

Female Canvasback on Sandy Pond in Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

The image below captured two female Canvasbacks just as they were preparing to land on Sandy Pond.

Female Canvasbacks Landing on Sandy Pond in Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

There is another duck species which passes through Utah and looks similar to the Canvasback, but I don't think it looks quite as finished as the Canvasback. It is the male Redhead. The forehead of the Redhead is rounded rather than sloped, the bill is bluish with a black tip, and the body doesn't have the clean white look. Here is an image of a male Redhead just after it came up from a dive.

Male Redhead on Sandy Pond in Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

And just for some fun, take a look at the image below and see which water birds you can identify. As always, the males will be more easily recognized than their female counter parts.