The canvasback is a local migrant who breed mainly in western North American. They can be quite numerous in there wintering waters but inland where I am located . . . . they are not as common. As a result you can understand how pleased I was to see these guys on Lake Erie last Wednesday. They are typically very skittish but there were a few who let me get close before swimming away.
Whenever I see a Canvasback . . . I am always aware of its unique long angled black bill and redish/brown head! They also have a bright red eye, white body and flat forehead. They have black on the breast and undertail coverts. Using the bill and head shape . . . you can easily distinguish the differences between the Canvasback and Redhead ducks.
I always love telling the story on how the Canvasback got its name . . . . ! In the 1800’s when hunting was the main source of food, those ducks shot would be shipped to the big cities via the train system. They were transported in canvas bags with writing on them saying “Canvas Back”, meaning they wanted the canvas bags back. So, the train mail staff would always joke around saying “there are those canvasback’s again” and of course talking about the ducks! And so that’s how they got there name “Canvasback”.
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