If you're a birder, you'll know what a life list is. It's basically a list of all the bird species one has observed and positively ID'd in one's lifetime. This blog is a record of my "critter" life list (mostly of birds), including photos I've taken over the years, some of the actual lifer if I was lucky enough to get the shot. Don't expect National Geographic quality stuff here, just the work of an amateur photog who loves to trudge out into nature.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Redhead (Aythya americana)


11/3/02 San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, Orange County, CA 

10/21/02 A row of redheads in the back (behind a merganser and a couple coots).
Spooner Lake (east of Lake Tahoe), Toiyabe National Forest, Washoe County, Nevada

7/3/05 Auto tour, Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, Modoc County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Redhead

SPECIES: Athya americana

LIFE LIST DATE: 10/21/2002

LOCATION: Spooner Lake (east of Lake Tahoe), Toiyabe National Forest, Washoe County, Nevada

From Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Western Region & Kaufman Focus Guide-Birds of North America:

HABITAT/BEHAVIOR: Although classified as a diving duck, the Redhead often dabbles in shallow water. Seen in small numbers in most areas, but huge flocks gather in winter on lagoons along Texas coast. . In summer, on prairie marshes, the female often lays eggs in the nests of other waterbirds (other duck species sometimes do this also). 

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 20"; both sexes have short bluish bills with black tips and steep rounded foreheads. Male: reddish head; black breast; grayish body. In eclipse plumage has brown body but retains reddish head and dark breast. Female: plain, warm brown body; darker brown back and wings; darker brown crown; buffy eye ring; black-tipped bill.  

VOICE: Male has catlike call during courtship. Female gives soft growling note. 

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