Redhead--Aythya americana

Male Redhead at small, private "lake" or pond in Orange County

One of the least common ducks in North America (according to the USGS), the male Redhead is striking and easy to spot. It has a dark red head, black chest, gray back and a black tail end. Its eyes are a bright yellow. Its bill is bright blue, ending with a indistinct pale stripe and a black tip. The female also has the same indistinct pale stripe and a black tipped bill, but her bill is more grayish-blue. (Bill is similar in pattern to the Ring-necked Duck.) Their feet are blue-gray with the males having brighter feet than the females. The female Redhead is brown with a white eye ring. Her eyes are brown. During the molting season, the male's head temporarily becomes less red. As in many species, the immature closely resembles the female. The females weigh less than the males, but otherwise are the same size. According to the USGS, the oldest recorded age for a wild Redhead is just a few months over 22 years old.






Male and Female Redheads at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California background and Ring-necked Ducks in foreground.


Redheads are crepuscular (occurring at dawn and dusk) and nocturnal feeders. They combine diving and dabbling feeding styles, but are primarily diving ducks. They feed on almost entirely on plant matter including wild celery, wetland grasses, and the leaves, roots, seeds, and stems of aquatic plants. A small amount of their diet consists of fish, insects, and other aquatic life. During breeding season, before laying eggs, the female switches to a mostly animal based diet.


Male Redhead at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Redheads are at home in either salt water or fresh or anywhere in between. They dive and dabble in the water. They can be found in lakes, bays, estuaries, and ponds. Habitat loss is cited as the reason experts believe this species has declined. It is hopeful to note that the population of Redheads in North American appears to be increasing.




Male Redhead with Male Scaups at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Redhead females are often the initiator in courtship, but not always. Sometimes they string two males along until the males clash and one leaves. Courtship begins in late winter and by late April the eggs are beginning to be laid. After the eggs are laid, the male takes off. Females often lay their eggs in the nests of other Redheads, other duck species or the nest of any handy species. They have even been know to lay eggs in the nests of American Bitterns and Northern Harriers both of whom nest on the ground. Breeding season lasts until late June. Nests close together.

Male Redhead at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Redheads breed in Alaska, the southern part of Canada, and in the northern part of the lower 48 States. They winter from California and along the Gulf of Mexico and south into Mexico.




Male and Female Redheads at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Similar species are the Canvasback, and the Ring-necked Duck. The Ring is shaped similarly, but is black, white, and gray with no red. The bill is a lighter shade of blue.



Male Canvasback

Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service. (Eugene Hester, photographer)  Note the differences between the Redhead and the Canvasback: A thin, black, tapered bill, long neck, and a red eye. The head of the Canvasback is more brown than the Redhead whose head is a much brighter red. The Redhead has a much more rounded head and bill, a blue bill, and yellow eyes. The Redhead and the Canvasback hybridize. Sibley makes a point in Sibley's guide to birds that only the male hybrids would be obvious, but the female hybrids may often be missed.

Male Redhead at small private lake or pond in Orange County



Redheads tend to move around in flocks. Like Cedar Waxwings, or Cattle Egrets, they can turn up unexpectedly.

Male Redhead at small private lake or pond in Orange County



Female Redheads have a harsh sounding quack. The male "meows" during courting.






Redhead - Delta Waterfowl Species Profile on YouTube

Check out the educational video put out by a hunting association above.

Male Redhead at small private lake or pond in Orange County


The Redhead is a very pretty bird and a nice one to see. Next time you are near water, scan the lake, pond, or estuary for this handsome duck, and have fun birding in Orange County.

Male and female Redhead at small private lake or pond in Orange County

Redhead--Aythya americana from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

Below are some videos I took of the Redhead at the private lake or pond in Orange County.

Redhead--Aythya americana II from OC Birder Girl on Vimeo.

OC Birder Girl Links

The Wild Ducks of Orange County

Birding Hot Spots in Orange County, California

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California

External Links and Resources

All About Birds: Redhead

Detailed article about the Redhead.

Animal Diversity Web: Redhead

Detailed article.

BIOLOGICAL AND ECOTOXICOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATE SPECIES RESIDING IN ESTUARIES

Interesting information regarding the population of Redheads in the United States.



BirdWeb: Redhead


Helpful.



Honolulu Zoo: Redhead

Detailed profile.

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Blue-winged Teal--Anas discors

Male Blue-winged Teal

With a North American population of 6.6 million for 2008, the Blue-winged Teal population is moving in the right direction. Teals are ducks who are smaller than the average. Other teals in Orange County include the Cinnamon Teals and Green-winged Teals. Blue-winged Teals have been known to hybridize with Cinnamon Teals, and Northern Shovelers. Blue-winged Teals prefer shallow water and can be found at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, and other similar Orange County environments.

Male and female Blue-winged Teal.

Blue-winged Teals have the diagnostic vertical crescent on each side of the face just behind the bill. The blue patch for which they are named is on the shoulder and only visible if they stretch out their wings or fly. Both male and female are finely patterned with a brownish color over most of their body. Females look very similar to the female Cinnamon Teals and have a broken white eye-ring and white at the base of the bill and otherwise are brown. They can be found from Alaska to South America. Like all teals, it is a dabbling duck. It inhabits ponds and wetlands eating aquatic plants and seeds, and aquatic invertebrates.

Interesting view of double-crescents from the front.

The Blue-winged teal winters in Orange County and areas south. It breeds in Canada and Alaska and the Midwest.




Male Blue-winged Teal. Notice the white spot by the tail.

Blue-winged Teals can be found hanging out with other ducks at wetlands and ponds. Usually you will see mixed flocks of Cinnamon Teals, Green-winged Teals, Northern Pintails, Scaups, and Mallards. You won't see them at community parks. These are wilder ducks.




Blue-winged teal drake and dabbling Blue-winged hen.

When you are out birding in the fall and winter, and even the very beginning of spring, look for the Blue-winged Teal.











OC Birder Girl Links





Wild Ducks of Orange County






American Wigeon






Cinnamon Teal--Anas cyanoptera







Green-winged Teal--Anas crecca







Mallards







Northern Pintails







Northern Shovelers







Odd Ducks












Taking a rest on the shore.










External Links and Resources





All About Birds: Blue-winged Teal

Detailed page about Blue-winged Teals.






Animal Diversity Web: Blue-winged Teal


Very Detailed page about Blue-winged Teals.








Ducks Unlimited: Blue-Winged Teal



Information about the Blue-winged Teal.






HYBRID OF BLUE-WINGED TEAL x SHOVELLER IN NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA by
FRANK A. HALL and STANLEY W. HARRIS

Journal article on a hybrid Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler.

Internet Bird Collection: Blue-winged Teal

Great site. Very good videos. Check out the high quality videos at the IBC. Seeing the bird in action really helps a birder identify the species in the field.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center: Blue-winged Teal

Photos of the Blue-winged Teal

US Geological Survey: Blue-winged Teal

Short article with pictures.

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Cinnamon Teal--Anas cyanoptera

Male and Female Cinnamon Teal

Cinnamon Teals are year-round residents of Southern California and Orange County. They are a native American species. A cinnamon, reddish-brown duck, it is small in comparison to the Mallard. The Cinnamon Teal male has orange-red eyes.

Notice how big the Mallard looks. This is a normal-sized Mallard, not a hybrid. The photograph was taken at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Cinnamon Teals are dabbling ducks. They spend a lot of their time head-down in the water. They come up for air and then, down again into the muddy water. "Just try and get a picture!" they seem to quack. It took me at least six months to get a clear picture of a Cinnamon Teal with its head up. I had their necks, their backs, and their butts, but the whole duck eluded me. How did I finally get the shots? Patience, patience, patience. Birding is a lot like photography. If you want the really good sightings or photographs, you stay and watch and wait. Finally, you will be rewarded.

Most of my pictures looked like this in the beginning.

The bill which you don't see when it is dabbling is reminiscent of the Northern Shoveler. It is big for a smaller bird, and pretty handy, too. So what are these little ducks dabbling for? The Cinnamon Teal eats roots, insects, mollusks, and seeds. It frequently forages in the shallow water , but also on the land. It dabbles on the surface like the Northern Shoveler or head down in the water like the Northern Pintail. Unlike diving ducks, dabbling ducks aren't doing any underwater swimming. They have smaller feet than ducks like Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead Ducks, and Surf Scoters because they don't need built in paddles to propel them beneath the surface. The nickname of "puddle duck" for dabbling ducks is an apt one even if they are found in water somewhat deeper than a puddle. You won't find them in the middle of a lake or deep river. They are in the shallow water dabbling on the surface or just below it for those seeds and roots, mollusks, or insects.

Preening those eye-catching feathers. (Green-winged Teal behind.)

Cinnamon Teals can be found in places with water since that is where they mostly feed. They like marshes, lakes, ponds, estuaries that have food they can eat and shelter. Ponds and lakes or other bodies of water with no vegetation probably won't attract a Cinnamon Teal. It is usually not the sort to be found in a neighborhood park or even a woodsy regional park. They are definitely wilder than the average Mallard or American Wigeon. So where in Orange County would you see Cinnamon Teals?

Cinnamon Teals in a seasonal puddle outside San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Riverside County.

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Newport Back Bay, and other areas like those would be the most likely environments. You might also find them along rivers like the Santa Ana River as long as it is location with both food and shelter.

Dabbling in one of the duck ponds at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Notice the black pattern on the back. The female has a similar lighter pattern.

Remember that male Cinnamon Teals are only Cinnamon part of the year. During a brief time from July to September (Sibley) the males look much like the female, but with a warmer brown and the characteristic orange-red eyes. Notice, too, that the Cinnamon Teal male is not all cinnamon, but has a patterned black back.

Pair of Cinnamon Teals

Cinnamon Teals are highly sought after by hunters, but being a small bird and a fast bird with unpredictable turns in flight, they are hard to shoot. Cinnamon Teals cannot be hunted in the Orange County locations listed in this post.

Male and female dabbling in shallow water. Notice the broken eye ring on the female. Notice also that she does not have a red eye.

Ducks in general tend to hybridize, but Cinnamon Teals are well known for hybridizing with Blue-winged Teals, so you may see hybrids in the area. So what do they look like? Well, they are variable. Many look a little bit like both. You might see a cinnamon colored bird somewhat like the Cinnamon Teal with a crescent on its face like the Blue-winged Teal. There are some links below that have pictures of hybrids.

Cinnamon Teals draw attention.

The Cinnamon Teal draws attention wherever it goes. It really is a beauty. Get familiar with all the plumages so you can id it in Spring, Summer, Winter, or Fall. Then when you are out birding the OC, you may just see our resident California native, the Cinnamon Teal.



A Male Cinnamon Teal


Compare duck sizes and know what to expect.

Male and female Cinnamon Teal at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Duck Size

Cinnamon Teal 16" long Wingspan 22"

Blue-winged Teal 15.5 " long Wingspan 24"

Green-winged Teal 14 " long Wingspan 23"

American Wigeon 20 " long Wingspan 32"

Northern Shoveler 19" long Wingspan 30"

Northern Pintail 21" long Wingspan 32"

Mallard 23 " long Wingspan 35"

Male Cinnamon Teal at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

OC Birder Girl Links

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve aka Newport Back Bay

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Other Dabbling Ducks (Puddle Ducks)

American Wigeon

Mallards

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler--Anas clypeata

The Wild Ducks of Orange County

External Links

All About Birds

Detailed article on the Cinnamon Teal includes photographs, description, range, food, behavior, cool facts, and more.

Animal Diversity Web: Cinnamon Teal

Very detailed information on the Cinnamon Teal including geographic range, photographs, sounds, physical description, habitat, food, reproduction, lifespan, ecosystem roles, conservation status, and more.

Nature Works: Cinnamon Teal

Great information and pictures from New Hampshire's Public Television's Nature Works. Includes diet, range, life cycle, and behavior.

US Geological Survey: Cinnamon Teal

Short, but informative article on the Cinnamon Teal.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Short article about the Cinnamon Teal.

The Great Backyard Count: Totals for Cinnamon Teals

Totals over the years of Cinnamon Teals in California from the Audubon Society. Orange County cities included.

Searchable Ornithological Research Archive

Search Sora for articles about the Cinnamon Teal. There are over 500 articles.

Arizona Field Ornithologists (AZFO)

Take a look at this interesting hybrid and the explanation for it.

Backyard Cam: Cinnamon Teal Hybrid

Pat's Backyard Cam is a great site. Check out this Cinnamon Teal Hybrid, and don't forget to check out the rest of her site at Pat's Backyard Cam.

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Northern Shoveler--Anas clypeata

Male Northern Shoveler at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary .

The graceful Northern Pintail may be the Audrey Hepburn of duckdom, but the Northern Shoveler is the Jimmy Durante of duckdom. Just take a look at that huge bill! It is the largest of any duck.





Female Northern Shoveler at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary .

With that large, spatula-like bill, the Northern Shoveler is a duck built to dabble. It is in fact the ultimate dabbler. It is rare to see it with its rear in the air like other dabblers. It dabbles the surface with its huge bill straining out all kinds of aquatic invertebrates and small crustaceans like snails, and some aquatic plants and seeds.




This is often what you see on a pond or lake. White in front and back.


Although in some ways it resembles the Mallard , it is easy to tell the difference even if you do not see its bill. Notice that the Northern Shoveler above has a white chest and brown sides and a bit of white showing on the tail. It's head is a dark green. An pattern easy to spot at a distance. Now compare with the Mallards dabbling below.

Happy Mallards dabbling at the Huntington Central Park by the Library after the rain refilled the lake.

Mallards have a brown chest, light sides and a iridescent, lighter green head. Note that the colors of the chest and sides are reversed. So even though both ducks have similar colors, the colors are places differently and are slightly different shades. Once you get to know them, the Mallard looks very different from the Northern Shoveler.

Northern Shoveler dabbling.

And of course if you look long enough, the you will see the bills.

Mallard at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve aka Newport Back Bay

Then it is easy to see which duck is which.

Taking a break.

Northern Shovelers out of the water area always easy to identify. Hard to miss that big, old bill. They do dabble for a long time and then finally get out of the water to rest, sun themselves, and do some serious preening.

Couple eating out together. Northern Shoveler couples stay together longer than most ducks.

Northern Shovelers are monogamous for the season. The male Northern Shoveler is a faithful guy as far as drakes (male ducks) go. He stays with his mate all through the season and through the brooding of the eggs. He is more of a gentleman the other drakes--that's for sure.

Northern Shoveler cruising at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary .

The Northern Shoveler really gets into his food and somehow always seems to have a little mud on his face above his bill. He has his head in the water and mud dabbling so much that it would be hard to avoid it. In addition to the marshes, lakes, and pond you may see them in, Northern Shovelers may be found in dirtier, more polluted waters as long as there is food there in the mud. They are not picky as far as the cleanliness of the water.

Group feeding together at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

When you mostly surface dabble and don't often dive or dabble up-side-down in the water, you have to figure out ways to get more out of your dabbling. Northern Shovelers have a technique that stirs the water into a more nutritious soup full of good stuff to dabble. They get together and rotate as if they were tilted spokes on a wheel. They go round and round and dabble all the things that get stirred up. Update: Check out my post Northern Shovelers Feeding Cooperatively for more on this Northern Shoveler technique called "Pin Wheeling."


Group feeding at Huntington Central Park.

More up above doing the same feeding routine at Huntington Lake in Huntington Central Park. Update: See my post on cooperative feeding in a group of Northern Shovelers at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Here is a video I took at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary of a male Northern Shoveler.

I have seen Shovelers at Huntington Central Park--mostly in Lake Huntington on the side by Shipley Nature Center --Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve aka Newport Back Bay , San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary , Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve , and many more areas in and around Orange County.




Northern Shoveler flying over Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve .

Next time you are out birding in Orange County, look for the duck with the big schnozzola. They are fun to observe. Northern Shovelers will be dabbling their time away at a lake or pond near you.

Male Northern Shoveler

Courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Donna Dewhurst, Photographer)

OC Birder Girl Links

Ducks

The Wild Ducks of Orange County

American Wigeon

Mallards

Northern Pintail

Wood Duck or Mandarin Duck?

Northern Shovelers Feeding Cooperatively

Northern Shoveler hen.

Courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Dave Menke, Photographer)

External Links and Resources

All About Birds from Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Northern Shoveler

Detailed article about the Northern Shoveler. Range, habitat, similar species, diet, feeding habits, and more.

BirdWeb: Northern Shoveler

Good article from the state of Washington Seattle Audubon about Northern Shovelers. Lots of detail.

Boreal Songbird Initiative: Northern Shoveler

Canadian site with a great article on the Northern Shoveler. Large sections on feeding techniques, breeding, migration, and conservation.

US Geological Survey: Northern Shoveler

Short, but good article about the Northern Shoveler.














More Photos

Northern Shoveler Pair

Courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Donna Dewhurst, Photographer)

Northern Shovelers going for a stroll.

Courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Donna Dewhurst, Photographer)

Video

Good video of a Northern Shoveler cooperative feeding technique.

The Internet Bird Collecton: Northern Shovelers

Videos of Northern Shovelers.

Places to see Ducks


Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Central Park in Huntington Beach

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

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The Wild Ducks of Orange County

DABBLING DUCKS (AKA Puddle Ducks)

American Wigeons at Huntington Central Park having a whistling contest.

Eurasian Wigeon at Huntington Central Park. This is a rare bird, but is regulary seen around Orange County in the fall and winter.

Blue-winged Teals at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Cinnamon Teals at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Mallards--Huntington Central Park

Northern Pintails at Newport Back Bay

Female and Male Northern Shovelers at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Male Northern Shoveler at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Female Northern Shoveler at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Male and female Green-winged Teal at Newport Back Bay

Male Green-winged Teal--Newport Back Bay

PERCHING DUCKS

Male Wood Duck--Aix sponsa at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California

Female Wood Duck--Aix sponsa at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California

Male Mandarin Duck (Exotic--non-native Asian species--most are escapees) at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Seen from time to time in Orange County, CA.









Female Mandarin Duck (exotic Asian species--non-native--most are escapees) at Huntington Central Park

DIVING DUCKS

Male Bufflehead Duck at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Female Bufflehead Duck at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Male Ruddy Duck Foreground non-breeding plumage at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Male Ruddy Duck in almost full breeding plumage. Just a little black still on the tip of the otherwise bright, blue bill.

Female Ruddy Duck at at Mason Regional Park swimming with her tail down.

Male Surf Scoter at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Female Surf Scoter at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

White-winged Scoter--female looks like the Surf Scoter female with less clearly defined white patches. This is a rare bird for Orange County. Photo taken at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve .

Male and female Redhead--Aythya americana at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Canvasback Ducks Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Photographer Donna Dewhurst.

Male and Female Lesser Scaups at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Male Ring-necked Duck Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Photographer--Lee Karney.












Ring-necked Duck Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Photographer Dave Menke.

Red-breasted Merganser at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Here is a male Hooded Merganser courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service photographer Tim McCabe. The Hooded Merganser is a rare bird for this area but turns up regularly in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, and ponds. Places like Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, and Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve aka Newport Back Bay, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, and several of the Regional Parks.


Here is a female Hooded Merganser courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service photographer Glen Smart. Again, a rare bird that turns up on a regular basis.


So when you are out birding in fall, winter, and early spring keep your binoculars and camera ready to spot some great wild ducks in Orange County! Check out the links below for more on ducks and places to go bird watching to see ducks. We have lots of birding hot spots in Orange County where you can see wild ducks.






OC Birder Girl Links







Odd Ducks



Strange-looking ducks and duck-like birds you might see in Orange County.












Birding Hot Spots in Orange County, California



Orange County, California has many great birding places including wonderful parks, nature centers, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and a national forest.




















Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Great place to see wild ducks or do any kind of birding. You can see more of the wilder variety here like Northern Pintails, Buffleheads, Scaups, Mergansers, and Scoters as well as Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeons, and Northern Shovelers.













Central Park in Huntington Beach
Another birding hot spot. Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeons, Mallards, and Northern Shovelers.













Mason Regional Park



Lots of surprises here as far as birding. You never know what you might find. Mostly Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeons, and Mallards though.











San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary



Wilder fresh water ducks and the more common ones, too. Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeons, Pintails, Buffleheads, and Northern Shovelers.







Tewinkle Park -- Costa Mesa

Mostly the usual park fair with a few occasional surprises.

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