Canvasback Ducks

Canvasback Ducks

A PAIR is a male/female pair of unrelated birds.

• Breeding season April-June depending on region
• Clucth size 6-8 eggs
• Incubation period 23-29 days
• 2 and 3.5 lbs.

The Canvasback Duck is one of the largest North American ducks and is classified as a diving duck, as it dives for most of its food. The sloping and long bill is perfectly adapted for digging aquatic roots, which are a main part of this duck's native diet. These are strong and elegant-looking ducks.

During the breeding season, male Canvasback Ducks have richly colored rust red heads, black necks and chests, and white textured wings, from which the name Canvasback came. They have red eyes, black bills, and grayish blue legs and feet. Females have a lighter, chestnut brown head, are lighter in color overall, and have more mottling throughout their feathering. Males are slightly larger than females.

The winter range of the Canvasback Duck is from the Northern Midwestern states up through Western Canada and into Alaska. The summer breeding grounds are usually on the West Coast, in the Southern United States, and into Mexico. Their winter habitat is mainly brackish waters near the coasts. In the summer breeding season, they move to flooded prairie areas and marshes.

Housing Requirements: Canvasback Ducks require space and a water source. For breeding and nesting, they will need some natural brush and vegetative hiding places. They don't like to use laying or nest boxes. Their enclosure must be made safe from predators. And it should be covered to keep the ducks from flying away.

Diet: A quality duck diet combined with access to greens and other variations in diet would make a solid feeding plan.