Redhead

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Redhead in Washington?

Rare. Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Redhead sighting in Washington on a given day, based on 546 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 170th most-seen of the 267 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Redhead in Washington?

Any time of year. In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Redhead in Washington on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Redhead?

Between 1 and 4 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Redhead sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Washington the best place to see a Redhead?

25th of 33. Of the 33 cities where we can rate Redhead sightings, Washington ranks 25th at under 5%. The best odds are in Las Vegas (United States, about 30%), Calgary (Canada, about 10%) and Anchorage (United States, about 10%).

Q: Where does the Redhead sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Redhead is recorded against all the birds logged in Washington (546 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Aythya americana

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
GenusAythya (Scaups, Pochards, and Allies)
SpeciesAythya americana (Redhead)

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

at Washington

In 3 days <5%

546 Verified sightings at Washington

2,870 In all 24 parks From 2019 to 2026

December Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Redhead

The redhead (Aythya americana) is a medium-sized diving duck. Its scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia, an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin americana, of America. The redhead is 40–56 cm (16–22 in) long with an 74–84 cm (29–33 in) wingspan; weights range from 1,030–1,080 g (36–38 oz), with males weighing an average of 1,080 g (38 oz) and females an average of 1,030 g (36 oz). It belongs to the genus Aythya, together with 11 other described species. The redhead and the common pochard form a sister group, which together are sister to the canvasback. This waterfowl is easily distinguished from most other ducks by the male's copper-colored head and pale blue bill during the breeding season; from its close relative, canvasback, it is distinguished by the more rounded head, shorter bill, and (in the males) yellow, not red, eyes. The Eurasian common pochard is even more similar, but very rarely overlaps in range; it also differs in having a red eye, and a more acute, less rounded head shape.

Other names that have been used for the redhead include red-headed duck and the red-headed pochard. Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:41

Canada · 1992

Recording0:58

Canada · 2014

Flight call0:23

Canada · 2013

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 33 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
2	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
3	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
4	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
5	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
6	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
7	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
8	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
9	Kluane National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
10	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
11	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
12	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
13	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
14	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
15	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
16	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
17	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
18	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
19	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
20	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
21	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
22	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
23	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
24	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Las Vegas	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
2	Calgary	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
3	Anchorage	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
4	Denver	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
5	San Diego	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
6	Los Angeles	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
7	Edmonton	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
8	Toronto	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
9	Chicago	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
10	Baltimore	🇺🇸 United States	<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Disney's Animal Kingdom	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	SeaWorld Orlando	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	Busch Gardens Tampa	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	San Diego Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
5	National Zoological Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
6	Abilene Zoological Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
7	Ecomuseum Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
8	Zoo Miami	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
9	Living Desert Zoo and Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
10	Bronx Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
11	Slimbridge Wetland Centre	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	In captivity
12	Fort Worth Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
13	Oregon Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
14	Zoo Opole	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
15	San Antonio Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
16	Cologne Zoological Garden	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
17	Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
18	Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
19	The Abilene Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
20	Discovery Cove	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
21	Queens Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
22	L'Oceanogràfic	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
23	Palm Beach Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
24	Buttonwood Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
25	Living Treasures "Wild" Animal Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
26	Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
27	David Traylor Zoo of Emporia	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
28	St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
29	Tracy Aviary	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
30	Florida Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
31	Texas State Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
32	Virginia Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
33	Cologne Zoo Aquarium	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity

Show all 33 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Washington

Aythya collaris

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Aythya affinis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Aythya valisineria

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Aythya marila

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Anas platyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Branta canadensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Aix sponsa

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Lophodytes cucullatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Anas carolinensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Bucephala albeola

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Spatula clypeata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Branta leucopsis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Redhead in Washington?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Redhead sighting in Washington on a given day, based on 546 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 170th most-seen of the 267 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Redhead in Washington?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Redhead in Washington on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

What time of day is best to see a Redhead?

Between 1 and 4 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Redhead sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Washington the best place to see a Redhead?

25th of 33

Of the 33 cities where we can rate Redhead sightings, Washington ranks 25th at under 5%. The best odds are in Las Vegas (United States, about 30%), Calgary (Canada, about 10%) and Anchorage (United States, about 10%).

Where does the Redhead sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Redhead is recorded against all the birds logged in Washington (546 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Washington

Redhead

About the Redhead

Sounds

Recent sightings of Redhead in Washington

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Washington

Ring-necked Duck

Lesser Scaup

Canvasback

Greater Scaup

Mallard

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Hooded Merganser

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Northern Shoveler

Barnacle Goose

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Redhead in Washington?

When is the best time to see a Redhead in Washington?

What time of day is best to see a Redhead?

Is Washington the best place to see a Redhead?

Where does the Redhead sighting chance come from?