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Compare Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Tufted Duck & Ring-necked Duck

Identification

Compare Common Pochard, Redhead, and Canvasback

These three related ducks look fairly similar as they all have a red head and neck, a black breast, and whitish body, however i have outlined some of the differences below.

As can be seen on the right of this page, the male Common Pochard has red eyes, and a dark bill with a whitish central band.

The female Common Pochard has a brown head with a paler face, dark-brown eyes, a dark bill with a narrow central band, a brown breast, and greyish body.

The male Redhead has yellow eyes, and the bill is light blue-grey with a black tip or nail.

The female Redhead has a brown head and body and a darker bluish bill with a black tip.

The male Canvasback has red eyes, a long neck, and a long sloping blackish bill.

The female Canvasback is brown with a paler face and chin, dark brown eyes, a whitish belly, and a long sloping black bill.

The male Common Pochard in eclipse, the male Redhead in eclipse, and the male Canvasback in eclipse all have a much more duller appearance when compared to their breeding plumage.

Links:

Common Pochard page

Redhead page

Canvasback page



Photographs

Pochard, Redhead, and Canvasback identification:

Below are photographs of the male & female Pochard, Redhead and Canvasback ducks with details of their differences to aid in identication.

Male & Female Pochards

The male Common Pochard (Aythya Ferina) has red eyes, and a dark bill with a whitish central band.

Male & Female Redheads

The male Redhead (Aythya Americana) has yellow eyes, and the bill is light blue-grey with a black tip or nail.

Male & Female Canvasbacks

The male Canvasback (Aythya Valisineria) has red eyes, a long neck, and a long sloping blackish bill.