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. 

Flapping, Scratching, and Stretching on Sandy Pond

There is a small community pond located near my place of work. It is one of many community/urban fisheries managed by the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) in Utah. This particular pond is called Sandy Urban Fishery, but many local birders refer to it as Sandy Pond. I sometimes visit the pond during my lunch hour to see what birds are on or around the water. Because water in this pond is circulated it generally remains open despite freezing temperatures during winter months. Consequently, it draws birds year round. The DWR stocks many of the community ponds with fish on a regular basis so it is not unusual to see Herons, Pelicans, Cormorants, Gulls, Ducks, Osprey, and more, depending on the season, on or around the ponds.

During a couple of visits in recent days I've noticed a great deal of flapping, scratching, and stretching on and around the pond. The Redhead below appears to be attempting to balance himself and walk on water.

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

That didn't quite work so he decided to scratch his head over the failed attempt. Or could he be tapping on his head to adjust his equilibrium?

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

A shrug of the shoulders seems to bring a little relief to the tension he must be feeling now that he realizes he's being photographed for a crazy birder's blog post.

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

We have a Great Blue Heron, sporting a funky hairdo, that can almost always be found at the pond. It will either be standing on the small island in the middle of the pond, perched on a fence, or down by the Jordan River across the street from the pond.

Stretching Great Blue Heron Adult (white crown) at Sandy Pond Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Scratching Great Blue Heron at Sandy Pond in Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

A lone California Gull was flying circles around the pond and made a few passes around my position on the bank and the small floating dock from which I photographed the scratching Heron.

Flapping California Gull at Sandy Pond Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Below is a flapping female Redhead. It flew by quickly on a rather cloudy day so the lighting was a challenge in terms of capturing motion, but I thought it would make a good comparison to the female Lesser Scaup that did a fly-by today while the sun was doing a better job of lighting the subjects.

Female Redhead Flying Over Sandy Pond in Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Female Lesser Scaup at Sandy Pond Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)
Very similar to female Greater Scaup (uncommon in Utah) and female Redhead and Ring-necked Ducks. Female Scaups do not have the eye ring seen on female Redhead and Ring-necked Ducks. Flight feathers are more white than Redhead and Ring-necked Ducks, which appear more grayish.

Female Lesser Scaup at Sandy Pond Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)
Very similar to female Greater Scaup (uncommon in Utah) and female Redhead and Ring-necked Ducks. Female Scaups do not have the eye ring seen on female Redhead and Ring-necked Ducks. Flight feathers are more white than Redhead and Ring-necked Ducks, which appear more grayish.

I love the raptors so I have to include a scratching and stretching Merlin that was recently at the pond to do a little hunting.

Scratching Merlin at Sandy Pond Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Stretching Merlin at Sandy Pond Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)