Redhead
Aythya americana
This attractive diving duck often gathers by the thousands on lakes or bays in the winter. Males have cinnamon-colored head, yellow eye, and gray body. Females are plain brown overall, a lighter blond color than scaup and Ring-necked Duck. Also note evenly rounded head shape. About the size of Greater Scaup, but slightly larger than Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck—this can be helpful when they are together in mixed flocks. Best separated from Canvasback by head and bill shape and male’s darker gray body. Breeds on marshy freshwater ponds and lakes; winters in flocks on any large body of water, often mixed with other diving ducks. Dives frequently to reach submerged aquatic vegetation.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Aythya americana
- Authority
- (Eyton, 1838)
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Aythya
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- NA : widespread
- Non-breeding range
- MA
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Shelley's Oliveback
Nesocharis shelleyi
A unique, beautiful finch of forest, forest edge, and farmlands, found only in the highlands of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and extreme southwest Nigeria. Surprisingly compact, with a short, stubby tail and a thick bluish bill. Shows a black head, a yellow-green back and wings, and gray undersides. Males also have a yellow-green chest. Feeds acrobatically on small branches, ferns, and other vegetation in the understory and sometimes higher, alone or in small groups. Calls are high pitched “siew” notes, and the song is a sequence of high-pitched buzzy notes.
Simeulue Scops-Owl
Otus umbra
Small scops-owl with bright yellow eyes, found only on Simeulue. Almost uniformly rufous-brown, with very inconspicuous (often flattened) ear tufts. The only resident scops-owl on Simeulue; migrant Oriental Scops-Owls could also occur on the island, but average larger, and have a more well-defined facial disc. Utilizes a variety of wooded habitats, from pristine forests to plantations. Listen for its song, a series of hiccupy piping notes, somewhat reminiscent of a barbet. Also gives a series of short squeals, which are sometimes mixed in with the song.
Pavonine Quetzal
Pharomachrus pavoninus
Stocky green-and-red quetzal of lowland rainforest. Perches in the mid story of mature rainforest, where most common in upland (terra firme) areas and areas around water. Compared to trogons, is larger and chunkier, with a red bill and without a prominent eye ring. The green uppertail coverts are long, extending down the back side of the tail to just past the tail tip. Listen for its song, a repeated two note series of a breathy whistle followed by a soft note, “wheeew … tuck … wheeew … tuck …”.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.