Hinterland Who's Who - Canvasback Canvasback At a Glance The Canvasback is a favourite of hunters because the flesh has a delicious taste when the bird has eaten certain foods, such as wild celery adult males and young seem to congregate in large flocks during migration is one of the most powerful fliers among ducks, capable of speeds of 120 km per hour was once taken daily in large numbers, using weapons that are now outlawed Description The Canvasback Aythya valisineria is a wild duck that is found only in North America. The adult male, or drake, is a large white-bellied, grey-backed duck with a black chest, sloping forehead, and ruddy chestnut head and neck. The adult female is about the same size and has the same sloping forehead and long bill. Less colourful, she is more able to blend into her surroundings when on the nest or rearing her young. She is white-bellied with a pale brown back and reddish brown head, neck, and chest. Male and female Canvasbacks resemble Redheads and Ring-necked Ducks of the corresponding sex, but can be distinguished from them by their longer black bills and less abrupt foreheads.

In early autumn, the young of both sexes resemble adult females, although their breast plumage is more mottled and their back plumage is darker. During November, the young males begin to resemble the adult males, and by February the adult plumage of both sexes has almost completely grown in. The genus Aythya to which the Canvasback belongs includes 12 species, five of which occur in North America. These are the Canvasback, Redhead, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, and Ring-necked Duck. Generally, all Aythya species have rounded bodies with large feet, legs set back on the body, and a broad bill. They are all diving ducks. Signs and sounds During courting, the male utters a moaning, almost dove-like, ik-ik-cooo cry. The female answers with a low quacking cuk-cuk. Habitat and Habits During the nonbreeding period, Canvasbacks spend their time on open water in huge "rafts," or floating flocks, which may extend for several kilometres in larger lakes and bays. On their winter feeding grounds, they often form small compact flocks and fly about for pleasure, especially in the early morning and the late afternoon.

Their wings create a loud whirring noise. Wild ducks feed either by dabbling on the surface of the water, or by diving below the surface. Although Canvasbacks dabble at times, they are diving ducks because they usually dive for their food and because, like other divers, they have a special lobe on their hind toe that they use like a paddle in the water. Unique characteristics The Canvasback is a favourite of hunters, as it is delicious to eat if it has itself eaten certain foods. Canvasbacks take their scientific name Aythya valisineria from an aquatic plant, called wild celery Vallisneria americana, which is one of the foods that give this game bird an excellent flavour. Among ducks, the Canvasback is one of the most powerful fliers, capable of speeds of 120 km per hour but it is an awkward bird on land due to its large size, short legs, and webbed feet. When taking off from the water, Canvasbacks patter along the surface for some distance before becoming airborne. Range The map shows the Canvasback’s principal breeding range in central Canada (mainly Alberta and Saskatchewan) and the northern United States. A lesser number breeds as far north as the Alaskan interior.

Breeding pairs have been found as far east as Shoal Lake and Lake Manitoba; west to Grand Forks, British Columbia; south to Cimarron, New Mexico; and north to Fort Yukon, Alaska, and the Anderson River, in the Northwest Territories. Canvasbacks winter mainly along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States and south to about 20°N. Typically, large numbers of these birds winter in the coastal regions of southern Maryland and Virginia. The southern migration is well under way by mid-October. During migration, Canvasbacks usually fly high up in V-shaped flocks. Migrating flocks normally contain about 100 birds, but flocks often converge at traditional feeding areas along the migration route, resulting in assemblages of many thousand individuals. Canvasbacks travel along three major migration corridors, or flyways. Those that nest in the central and eastern prairies migrate southeastwards to wintering areas along the Atlantic coast, primarily in Virginia and Maryland. This is the largest group, and these migrants head across Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, either continuing south through the Finger Lakes of New York or flying eastwards to the eastern end of Lake Ontario before turning south.

Small flocks belonging to this population migrate through the Montreal region, where they are relatively easy to observe. Another group of Canvasbacks moves from the central prairies to the northern tributaries of the Mississippi River, following the river valley to the Gulf of Mexico. The smallest group migrates from breeding grounds in western Alberta, interior British Columbia, and central Alaska to wintering grounds along the Pacific coast. Adult males and young seem to congregate in large flocks during migration, whereas adult females appear to migrate along a broad front and are not common anywhere. The routes followed by migrating Canvasbacks have changed in the last century. Although few Canvasbacks were observed in Massachusetts or Maryland before 1895, the species is now common there. Large numbers of Canvasbacks now congregate on the navigation pools of the upper Mississippi River where few were previously observed. Sometimes, especially in the fall, individuals wander well beyond traditional migration routes: on rare occasions, Canvasbacks have been observed at Moosonee, Ontario, in eastern Quebec, in New Brunswick, in Nova Scotia, and in Bermuda. The northern migration, from wintering to breeding ground, occurs in early spring.

In most years, some migrants return to southern Ontario by late February and to southern Manitoba by mid-April. Feeding Canvasbacks usually feed by diving in water 2 to 9 m deep, but occasionally they dabble in shallow areas with surface-feeding ducks, especially American Wigeon. Their diet includes about 80 percent aquatic plants, primarily pond weeds, wild celery, duck potato, wild rice, banana water lily, and milfoils, or a species of flowering water plants. Canvasbacks also consume animal material, including insects, molluscs, or soft-bodied creatures with shells, such as snails, and various fish. Feeding generally occurs during the day, although Canvasbacks sometimes feed at night. Breeding By mid-February, courtship activities have begun. Commonly, several males court one or two females. A bright plumage helps a drake to attract a mate. A courting male throws his head back until the crown almost touches the tail feathers, then brings his head forward and utters a moaning, almost dove-like, ik-ik-cooo cry. The female answers with a low quacking cuk-cuk.

At other times the amorous drake performs the kinked-neck display, in which the neck is stretched and bent forward momentarily. Canvasbacks do not mate for life. Pairs form in late winter or during migration in early spring, and the female leads her mate to a nest site, usually near where she was reared. This species nests late, usually about the end of May in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Canvasbacks commonly build their nests near open water in the shallows of large sloughs, or marshy areas, among cattails, bulrushes, and reeds. The nest is a large, bulky structure made of reeds and sedges and lined with drab brown down plucked from the female’s body. As incubation, or warming of the eggs until they hatch, proceeds, the layer of down thickens into an insulating blanket. The female uses this to cover the eggs when she leaves the nest. As soon as the females have laid their seven to nine eggs, the males desert their mates and gather in large flocks on lakes and larger sloughs to moult, or shed old feathers. For two weeks, the males are unable to fly to escape predators due to loss of their flight feathers.

Their plumage changes colour to look like that of the females, which is more effective camouflage, while they wait for new flight feathers to grow in. The burden of incubating the eggs and rearing the brood falls on the females alone, and hens younger than five years old are frequently unsuccessful. The drab green or grayish olive eggs must be incubated for 24 to 28 days. A day or two after the eggs have hatched, the ducklings must be led safely to open water to find their own food, usually drifting plant material. The young do not develop feathers until about the fifth week, and are unable to fly until about 11 weeks. In late summer, the females and young join the males. Family units split up during the early fall, and the young may or may not migrate with their parents. The life span of Canvasbacks is poorly known, but individuals aged 10 and 19 years have been recorded. Conservation Hunters seek the Canvasback because it is so delicious. Before it became illegal to sell wild game, hundreds of Canvasbacks were taken daily using weapons, such as punt guns, and methods, such as night shooting, that have since been outlawed.

Today, hunters use large flocks of 50 to 100 decoys to attract these curious trusting birds. This technique is especially effective early in the hunting season. In the last 40 years, Canvasback populations have fluctuated from about 500 000 in the mid-1950s to about 200 000 in the early 1990s. In an attempt to ensure that populations remain healthy, the Canadian and American governments regulate hunting carefully. The Canadian Wildlife Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with provincial and state wildlife agencies, conduct surveys to determine total numbers of ducks and the annual hunting kill. Restrictive hunting regulations are not enough to ensure healthy populations. Loss of habitat and periodic droughts on the breeding grounds cause declines in populations of this and other species. Loss of habitat results from farmers and developers draining wetlands and the use of vast expanses of former breeding range to grow crops. In addition, wintering range has been reduced in quality. For example, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, no longer supports the wide range of plants that wintering Canvasbacks once fed upon.

Concern for the Canvasback and other wild ducks and geese that nest in prairie wetlands has prompted the various federal, provincial, and state wildlife agencies to cooperate in programs called "habitat joint ventures" under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, or NAWMP. Programs to enhance wetlands used by ducks and geese have been initiated in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. J.J. Cadiz Barn Swallow Barn Swallow (60 seconds) Barn Swallow (30 seconds) Barn Swallow (photo by J.J. Cadiz) The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is a medium-sized songbird, about the size of a sparrow. It measures between 15 and 18 centimeters (cm) in length and 29 to 32 cm in wingspan, and weighs between 15 and 20 grams (g). But while it is average-sized, it’s far from average-looking! Its back and tail plumage is a distinctive steely, iridescent blue, with light brown or rust belly and a chestnut-coloured throat and forehead. Their long forked tail and pointed wings also make them easily recognizable.

It’s these wings, tail and streamlined bodies that make their fast, acrobatic flight possible. Both sexes may look similar, but females are typically not as brightly coloured and have shorter tails than males. When perched, this swallow looks almost conical because of its flat, short head, very short neck and its long body. Although the average lifespan of a Barn Swallow is about four years, a North American individual older than eight years and a European individual older than 16 years have been observed. Sights and sounds: Like all swallows, the Barn Swallow is diurnal –it is active during the day, from dusk to dawn. It is an agile flyer that creates very acrobatic patterns in flight. It can fly from very close to the ground or water to more than 30 m heights. The species may be the fastest swallow, as it’s been recorded at speeds close to 75 kilometers per hour (km/h). When not in flight, the Barn Swallow can be observed perched on fences, wires, TV antennas or dead branches. Both male and female Barn Swallows sing both individually and in groups in a wide variety of twitters, warbles, whirrs and chirps.

They give a loud call when threatened, to which other swallows will react, leaving their nests to defend the area. Birds Thinkstock Freshwater Turtles Wetlands (30 seconds) expired Wetlands (60 seconds) expired Stinkpot Freshwater turtles are reptiles, like snakes, crocodilians and lizards. Like other reptiles, they are ectothermic, or “cold-blooded”, meaning that their internal temperature matches that of their surroundings. They also have a scaly skin, enabling them, as opposed to most amphibians, to live outside of water. Also like many reptile species, turtles lay eggs (they are oviparous). But what makes them different to other reptiles is that turtles have a shell. This shell, composed of a carapace in the back and a plastron on the belly, is made of bony plates. These bones are covered by horny scutes made of keratin (like human fingernails) or leathery skin, depending on the species. All Canadian freshwater turtles can retreat in their shells and hide their entire body except the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina).

This shell is considered perhaps the most efficient form of armour in the animal kingdom, as adult turtles are very likely to survive from one year to the next. Indeed, turtles have an impressively long life for such small animals. For example, the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) can live for more than 70 years! Most other species can live for more than 20 years. There are about 320 species of turtles throughout the world, inhabiting a great variety of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems on every continent except Antarctica and its waters. In Canada, eight native species of freshwater turtles (and four species of marine turtles) can be observed. Another species, the Pacific Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata), is now Extirpated, having disappeared from its Canadian range. Also, the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) has either such a small population that it is nearly Extirpated, or the few individuals found in Canada are actually pets released in the wild. More research is needed to know if these turtles are still native individuals.

Finally, the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), has been introduced to Canada as released pets and, thus, is not a native species. Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles Thinkstock Little Brown Bat Little Brown Bat The Little Brown Bat, or Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) weighs between 7 and 9 g, and has a wingspan of between 25 and 27 cm. Females tend to be slightly larger than males but are otherwise identical. As its name implies, it is pale tan to reddish or dark brown with a slightly paler belly, and ears and wings that are dark brown to black. Contrary to popular belief, Little Brown Bats, like all other bats, are not blind. Still, since they are nocturnal and must navigate in the darkness, they are one of the few terrestrial mammals that use echolocation to gather information on their surroundings and where prey are situated. The echolocation calls they make, similar to clicking noises, bounce off objects and this echo is processed by the bat to get the information they need. These noises are at a very high frequency, and so cannot be heard by humans.

Mammals Glenn Williams Narwhal Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are considered medium-sized odontocetes, or toothed whales (the largest being the sperm whale, and the smallest, the harbour porpoise), being of a similar size to the beluga, its close relative. Males can grow up to 6.2 m -the average size being 4.7 m- and weigh about 1,600 kg. Females tend to be smaller, with an average size of 4 m and a maximum size of 5.1 m and weigh around 900 kg. A newborn calf is about 1.6 m long and weighs about 80 kilograms. The narwhal has a deep layer of fat, or blubber, about 10 cm thick, which forms about one-third of the animal’s weight and acts as insulation in the cold Arctic waters. Like belugas, they have a small head, a stocky body and short, round flippers. Narwhals lack a dorsal fin on their backs, but they do have a dorsal ridge about 5 cm high that covers about half their backs.

This ridge can be used by researchers to differentiate one narwhal from another. It is thought that the absence of dorsal fin actually helps the narwhal navigate among sea ice. Unlike other cetaceans –the order which comprises all whales–, narwhals have convex tail flukes, or tail fins. These whales have a mottled black and white, grey or brownish back, but the rest of the body (mainly its underside) is white. Newborn narwhal calves are pale grey to light brownish, developing the adult darker colouring at about 4 years old. As they grow older, they will progressively become paler again. The narwhal’s colouring gives researchers an idea about how old an individual is. Some may live up to 100 years, but most probably live to be 60 years of age. The narwhal’s most striking feature is undoubtedly its tusk. This long, spiral upper incisor tooth (one of the two teeth narwhals have) grows out from the animal’s upper jaw, and can measure up to 3 m and weigh up to 10 kg.

Although the second, smaller incisor tooth often remains embedded in the skull, it rarely but on occasion develops into a second tusk. Tusks typically grow only on males, but a few females have also been observed with short tusks. The function of the tusk remains a mystery, but several hypotheses have been proposed. Many experts believe that it is a secondary sexual character, similar to deer antlers. Thus, the length of the tusk may indicate social rank through dominance hierarchies and assist in competition for access to females. Indeed, there are indications that the tusks are used by male narwhals for fighting each other or perhaps other species, like the beluga or killer whale. A high quantity of tubules and nerve endings in the pulp –the soft tissue inside teeth – of the tusk have at least one scientist thinking that it could be a highly sensitive sensory organ, able to detect subtle changes in temperature, salinity or pressure. Narwhals have not been observed using their tusk to break sea ice, despite popular belief. Narwhals do occasionally break the tip of their tusk though which can never be repaired.

This is more often seen in old animals and gives more evidence that the tusk might be used for sexual competition. The tusk grows all throughout a male’s lifespan but slows down with age. Mammals Simon Bolyn Wood Duck Wetlands (30 seconds) expired Wetlands (60 seconds) expired Many naturalists and hunters consider the Wood Duck Aix sponsa to be the most beautiful duck in North America, if not the world. The male in its multi-coloured breeding plumage, worn from October through June, is unexcelled among ducks. The female is less showy, although still beautiful and more colourful than other female ducks. Wood Ducks are intermediate in size, between the Mallard and Blue-winged Teal; on average, males weigh 680 g and females weigh 460 g. From a distance, the male Wood Duck on the water appears as a dark-bodied, dark-breasted, light-flanked duck with a striped crested head and a light-coloured throat. At close range, its iridescent plumage, red eyes, and black, red, and white bill are conspicuous.

A white eye-ring, light-coloured throat, and fine crest distinguish the female from both the male Wood Duck and females of other species. Both sexes usually show a downward pointing crest at the back of the head, and their long broad square tails are distinctive features in flight. The wings of Wood Ducks are highly characteristic. The primary wing feathers, which are the 10 outermost flight feathers attached to the wing beyond the wrist, are dark in colour. The outer vanes of these feathers look as if they have been sprayed with aluminum paint. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck so marked. Birds Thinkstock Ptarmigan Ptarmigans are hardy members of the grouse family that spend most of their lives on the ground at or above the treeline. Three species are present in North America: the Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus, the White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucurus, and the Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus. Like other grouse, ptarmigans have chunky bodies, short tails and legs, and short, rounded wings.

Willow Ptarmigans weigh from 450 to 800 g, White-tailed Ptarmigans weigh about 350 g, and Rock Ptarmigans are intermediate in size. All ptarmigans have feathered feet, unique among chickenlike birds, which improve their ability to walk in snow. They also have white wings throughout the year. Inflatable red combs above their eyes, which are especially evident in territorial and courting males, are inconspicuous to barely visible in females. Ptarmigans have three seasonal plumages per year, instead of the two that are usual for most birds. These plumages keep the birds, particularly the female, well camouflaged at all times. In winter, all ptarmigans of both sexes are basically white. Whereas White-tailed Ptarmigans have permanently white tail feathers, the tails of Willow and Rock Ptarmigans remain black throughout the year. In winter, male—and some female—Rock Ptarmigans sport a black stripe that extends through the eye to the bill (as if they had put on charcoal goggles to prevent snow blindness), distinguishing them from male Willow Ptarmigans.

In ptarmigans, the moult, or shedding of old feathers, starts with the head and progresses towards the tail. As soon as the spring snowmelt begins, females moult into a barred breeding plumage of brown, gold, and black. Female ptarmigans are difficult to tell apart in spring, but the overall tones of the White-tailed Ptarmigan females are cooler in comparison to those of the other two species. Breeding males delay their moult. Birds Shorebirds Wetlands (30 seconds) expired Wetlands (60 seconds) expired Shorebirds form one of the most interesting, important, and spectacular groups of birds in Canada. They comprise a diverse group of species, including the plovers, oystercatchers, avocets, stilts, turnstones, sandpipers, yellowlegs, snipes, godwits, curlews, and phalaropes. To the uninitiated, many species of shorebirds, especially the smaller sandpipers, appear confusingly similar, representing variations on a design involving long legs, a long bill, sharp, dynamic wings, and a streamlined body.

These design features all reflect the lifestyle for which the birds are adapted—long legs for wading in water or on mudflats or marshes, the long bill for searching for tiny animal and insect prey by probing into Arctic tundra or a variety of substrates, and long wings and a streamlined body for swift flight over long distances. Birds Lindy Martin Tundra Swan Wetlands (30 seconds) expired Wetlands (60 seconds) expired The Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus, formerly known as the Whistling Swan, is a large bird with white plumage and black legs, feet, and beak. However, when it is feeding in iron-rich areas, the feathers on its head and neck may take on a reddish tinge. The male weighs on average 7.5 kg and can measure 1.3 m from bill to tail. The adult female is about the same size as the male but weighs slightly less, about 6.3 kg. The young of the year are smaller than the adults and have grey plumage, pinkish beaks with black tips, and pink legs and feet. It takes at least two years for adult plumage to grow in.

There are seven species of swans in the world. Two of these, the Tundra Swan and the Trumpeter Swan C. buccinator, are native to North America; their respective populations comprise 140 000 and 16 000 individuals. One non-native species, the Mute Swan, is found in North America,. People brought Mute Swans from Europe and Asia for ornamental display in parks and zoos, and now this species is found in the wild in certain parts of the continent. The Tundra Swan is the most common of the three species of swan found in Canada. Although Trumpeter Swans are slightly larger than Tundra Swans, it is very difficult to tell the two species apart. At close range, a small yellow mark at the base of the bill, close to the eye, can be seen on the Tundra Swan. There is no such mark on the Trumpeter Swan. Signs and sounds Although very similar in appearance, the Trumpeter Swan and the Tundra Swan have quite different voices. The Trumpeter Swan has a deep, resonant, brassy, trumpet-like voice; the voice of the Tundra Swan is softer and more melodious.

The Tundra Swan’s former name “whistling swan” referred to the sound made by the slow, powerful beating of the wings in flight, and not to the voice of the bird. The call is pitched lower than a whistle and more closely resembles a blowing or tearing sound. When thousands of birds are concentrated at a migratory staging point, the level of sound is very high, particularly at night when much of the social activity takes place. Birds Jean-Daniel Gagné Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, and Northern Goshawk Of the 19 species of raptors, or birds of prey, in Canada, three are Accipiters. Accipiters are small to medium-sized hawks of swift flight that occur around the world. The Canadian species are the Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus, the Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii, and the Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is found in North, Central, and South America, the Cooper’s Hawk only in North America, and the Northern Goshawk on five continents. Accipiters can be distinguished from other types of hawks by their flight silhouettes (see sketch).

Like the buteos (e.g., the Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis) and harriers (the Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus is the only Canadian harrier), the accipitrine hawks have rounded wings; however, these are shorter than in the other two groups. In contrast, the wings of another group of hawks, the falcons, such as the Kestrel or Sparrow Hawk Falco sparverius, are pointed. All accipiters generally have similar colouring, small heads, long tails, and short rounded wings. The female of each species grows larger than the male. They range in size from the small male Sharp-shinned Hawk, which is smaller than a gull, to the large female Northern Goshawk, which at 55 to 66 cm is larger than a crow. The Cooper’s Hawk is intermediate in size; the male Cooper’s is easily confused with the female Sharp-shinned Hawk, and the female Cooper’s Hawk is almost as large as the male Northern Goshawk.

There are distinguishing characteristics—for example, the shape of the tail is square for the Sharp-shinned Hawk, rounded for the Cooper’s Hawk, and almost square for the Northern Goshawk—but identification is difficult. Birds Guy L. Brun Semipalmated Sandpiper Wetlands (30 seconds) expired Wetlands (60 seconds) expired The Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla, only about 30 g in weight and 14 cm long, is one of Canada’s smallest shorebirds. Its name comes from the partial webs between its toes. Males and females are identical in rather plain brown or grey plumage although females are slightly larger. The species can be difficult to distinguish from other small sandpipers. Semipalmated Sandpipers moult, or shed, their body feathers twice a year. The change to the greyish-brown fall-winter plumage usually starts on the breeding grounds and is completed after arrival on the non-breeding area. The moult that takes place on the non-breeding area prior to spring migration gives them a slightly brighter (more brown) breeding plumage.

Adults moult their flight feathers (wings and tail) gradually—retaining the ability to fly at all times—and only once per year, usually in the non-breeding area. Some juveniles do not replace any flight feathers in their first winter, as these are quite new. Others, however, moult some of the outermost primaries (outer wing feathers), which are important for flight and wear most rapidly. Signs and sounds The Semipalmated Sandpiper’s voice is a single note chit or cheh. Birds Dave Hughes Ruffed Grouse The scientific name for the Ruffed Grouse is Bonasa umbellus. Both terms are from the Latin: Bonasa means good when roasted and umbellus, a sunshade. This refers to the ruff or dark-coloured neck feathers that are particularly large in the male. When he is in display before the female, these are erected and surround his head almost like an umbrella. By nodding his head and ruffs, and spreading his tail and strutting, the male identifies himself to the female and encourages her advances. The male Ruffed Grouse is about the size of a bantam chicken and weighs about 500 g.

The females are smaller. Unlike the chicken, the grouse has a broad flat tail that is usually held down but that may be erected and spread into a half circle. The dappled and barred plumage ranges in colour from pale grey through sombre red to rich mahogany. In the east, most grouse are predominantly grey, although some are red. Greys are in the majority in the central parts of the continent, and on the west coast most grouse are reddish brown. The colours worn by the grouse are related to their habitat: the dark-coloured grouse inhabit dark forest, as on the coast; grey grouse live in lighter bush. This camouflage helps protect the grouse from their predators. Males are hard to tell from females at a distance, but they are larger with larger ruffs and a longer tail. In the male the broad band of dark colour in the tail is usually unbroken. The Ruffed Grouse is frequently called the “partridge.” This leads to confusion with the Gray, or Hungarian, Partridge, which was introduced to Canada from Europe. The Ruffed Grouse is only distantly related to the Gray Partridge, which is a bird of open areas, not woodlands.

Birds Laurenz Baars Downy Woodpecker Of the 198 species of woodpeckers worldwide, 13 are found in Canada. The smallest and perhaps most familiar species in Canada is the Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens. It is also the most common woodpecker in eastern North America. This woodpecker is black and white with a broad white stripe down the back from the shoulders to the rump. Its wings are checkered in a black and white pattern that shows through on the wings’ undersides, and the breast and flanks are white. The crown of the head is black; the cheeks and neck are adorned with black and white lines. Male and female Downy Woodpeckers are about the same size, weighing from 21 to 28 g. The male has a small scarlet patch, like a red pompom, at the back of the crown. The Downy Woodpecker looks much like the larger Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus, but there are some differences between them. The Downy’s outer tail feathers are barred with black, unlike the Hairy Woodpecker’s, which are all white.

The Downy is about 6 cm smaller than the Hairy, measuring only 15 to 18 cm from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail. And the Downy’s bill is shorter than its head, whereas the Hairy’s bill is as long as or longer than its head length. The Downy’s name refers to the soft white feathers of the white strip on the lower back, which differ from the more hairlike feathers on the Hairy Woodpecker. Woodpeckers are a family of birds sharing several characteristics that separate them from other avian families. Most of the special features of their anatomy are associated with the ability to dig holes in wood. The straight, chisel-shaped bill is formed of strong bone overlaid with a hard covering and is quite broad at the nostrils in order to spread the force of pecking. A covering of feathers over the nostrils keeps out pieces of wood and wood powder. The pelvic bones are wide, allowing for attachment of muscles strong enough to move and hold the tail, which is important for climbing. Another special anatomical trait of woodpeckers is the long, barbed tongue that searches crevices and cracks for food.

The salivary glands produce a sticky, glue-like substance that coats the tongue and, along with the barbs, makes the tongue an efficient device for capturing insects. Signs and sounds As early as February or March a Downy Woodpecker pair indicate that they are occupying their nesting site by flying around it and by drumming short, fast tattoos with their bills on dry twigs or other resonant objects scattered about the territory. The drumming serves as a means of communication between the members of the pair as well. Downys also have a variety of calls. They utter a tick, tchick, tcherrick, and both the male and the female add a sharp whinnying call during the nesting season. Hatchlings give a low, rhythmic pip note, which seems to indicate contentment. When a parent enters the nest cavity, the nestlings utter a rasping begging call, which becomes stronger and longer as the chicks mature. Birds Mark Williams Snowy Owl One of the heaviest of North American owls, the Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus stands nearly half a metre tall, with a wingspan of almost 1.5 m.

As is the case with most diurnal birds of prey—those that are active during the day—the female is larger and heavier than the male. The average weight of the female is 2.3 kg compared to 1.8 kg for the male. Adult males may be almost pure white in colour. Adult females are darker, their white feathers barred with dark brown. First-year birds of both sexes are more darkly marked than their adult counterparts. Immature males resemble adult females, and immature females are heavily barred and may appear dark grey when seen from a distance. The light coloration of Snowy Owls provides camouflage when the owls are perched on snow, but this advantage is lost in summer. As spring approaches and the ground becomes bare, Snowy Owls move to sit on patches of snow or ice. No one knows whether they do this to camouflage themselves or whether they are merely keeping insects away or staying cool. A dense layer of down, overlaid with thick feathering, insulates the Snowy Owl’s entire body, including the legs and toes, and enables the bird to maintain a body temperature of 38 to 40°C, even when the air temperature reaches -50°C.

In strong wind, Snowy Owls may seek shelter by crouching on the ground behind a windbreak, such as a pile of stones, snowdrift, or bale of hay. Birds Seabirds Common Tern Everyone who has visited the coast is familiar with gulls, those graceful, long-winged birds that throng the beaches and harbours and boldly beg for scraps. The gulls are a family of birds that live mainly at sea, either along the shore, or out in the ocean itself. Worldwide, there are more than 350 species of birds that live either partially or exclusively at sea, and these are generally known as "seabirds.” The table below lists the 14 families of marine birds and the approximate number of species in each (the exact number of species is continually being revised as genetic research reveals that some very similar-looking birds are so different in their genetic makeup that they constitute different species). All species belonging to the albatross, auk, frigatebird, gannet, penguin, petrel, and storm-petrel families feed exclusively at sea.

In addition, many species of cormorants, grebes, gulls, jaegers, loons, pelicans and terns feed either entirely or mainly at sea. The Phalaropes are the only shorebirds that feed at sea. Families of birds in which all species feed either entirely of partially at sea and the approximate number of species in each family appear below (from The number of species that breed in Canada are shown in parentheses. Ducks and grebes that feed at sea are not included. Birds Thinkstock Roseate Tern The Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii is a seabird that resembles a small gull, but it has the typically slender body, short legs, and long, pointed wings of all terns. It is closely related to the Common Tern Sterna hirundo and the Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaeaand is frequently found in their company. For these reasons, the Roseate Tern is not easy to identify (see drawings). It is a paler grey than Arctic and Common terns, and its tail streamers are considerably longer.

The adult Roseate Tern is 33 to 34 cm in length and has a wingspan of 72 to 80 cm. At a weight of approximately 100 to 120 g, an adult is slightly smaller than a Mourning Dove. It has a black forehead and nape, and its upper wing is a pale grey. Its tail is white with deeply forked outer feathers that give the impression of long streamers when the bird is in flight. The underside of the tern is white, tinged with pink early in the breeding season; however, this pale rosy tint is not a good field mark, or identification characteristic, because it varies from bird to bird, and the colour tends to be bleached out by the sun. The legs and feet are reddish, and the bill is mostly black, although bills of breeding birds may be red at the base. Male and female birds look alike. The head of the nonbreeding adult is mottled black and white. The juvenile Roseate Tern has a mottled greyish back and rump and dark bill and legs.

Chicks are unevenly covered with down, giving them a spiky appearance; their legs are dark purplish to black. Signs and sounds All terns have a harsh cry, but the Roseate Tern has a distinctive, two-syllable call — kir-rick. This is often the best way of confirming its presence at a colony. Birds John Williams Redhead Wetlands (30 seconds) expired Wetlands (60 seconds) expired The Redhead Aythya americana is a well-known and widely distributed North American diving duck. The adult male is a large, grey-backed, white-breasted duck with a reddish-chestnut head and black neck and chest. It resembles the larger male Canvasback. At close range, the head appears puffy, with an abrupt forehead and a short, broad bill, while the Canvasback’s bill is longer and slopes down from the forehead. The adult female is a large, brown-backed, white-breasted duck with a brown head, whitish chin, abrupt forehead, short, broad bill, and pearl-grey wing patches. Female Redheads, although larger, may be confused with female Ring-necked Ducks and scaups.

In autumn young Redheads resemble adult females, although their breast plumage is dull grey-brown, rather than white. During November and December, the young begin to develop the adult plumage, which has almost completely grown in by February. The genus Aythya, to which the Redhead belongs, includes 12 species, all of which are well adapted to diving. The body is rounded and thick with large feet, legs set back on the body, and a broad bill. Body shapes vary from the big, long-necked, long-billed Canvasback to the short-billed scaup. The genus is represented in North America by the Canvasback, Redhead, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, and Ring-necked Duck. Birds Thinkstock Piping Plover Wetlands (30 seconds) expired Wetlands (60 seconds) expired The Piping Plover Charadrius melodus is a small bird of lakeshores, river sandbars, and ocean coasts. With its head and back the colour of dried sand, the Piping Plover blends well into its beach surroundings, helping it hide from predators.

It has a white rump, a partially black tail, a black band above its white forehead, and a single black “belt” or breastband (also referred to as a collar or neckband), which is sometimes incomplete, that contrasts with its white breast and abdomen. Its bright orange legs match its orange, black-tipped bill. Adults weigh from 43 to 64 g and are about the size of a bluebird. Males and females are similar in appearance, although the males tend to have broader and more distinct black bands on the head and breast and a brighter orange bill. The adult winter plumage, which looks like the juvenile plumage, lacks the black head and breast bands. On the wintering grounds, orange legs distinguish the Piping Plover from other plover species. The Piping Plover is the rarest of six “belted” plover species found in North America. The single band, or “belt,” of the Piping Plover tends to be more incomplete in coastal birds and complete in interior birds.

The Piping Plover is often confused with the Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus, which is similar in size to the Piping Plover but has a darker body, the colour of wet sand, lacks a white rump patch, and has more pronounced black bands on the forehead, cheek area, and neck. Taxonomically, the Piping Plover is split into two subspecies. The circumcinctus subspecies occurs in the Northern Great Plains and Great Lakes regions. The melodus subspecies is restricted to the Atlantic coast. Signs and sounds The Piping Plover’s call is a plaintive cry, sometimes described as a whistled peep-lo, with the first syllable higher. The male calls vigorously during its courtship flights and when preparing nest scrapes. Birds Alex Borbely Coho Salmon Adult coho salmon have silvery sides and metallic blue backs with irregular black spots. Spawning males have bright red sides, and bright green backs and heads, with darker colouration on their bellies. The fish have hooked jaws and sharp teeth. Young coho salmon are aggressive, territorial and often vibrantly coloured, with a large orange anal fin edged in black and white.

Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles Bill Maynard Trumpeter Swan Wetlands (30 seconds) expired Wetlands (60 seconds) expired Adult Trumpeter Swans Cygnus buccinator are large birds with white feathers and black legs and feet. The feathers of the head and the upper part of the neck often become stained orange as a result of feeding in areas rich in iron salts. The lack of colour anywhere on the swans’ bodies distinguishes them from other white species of waterfowl, such as snow geese, which have black wing tips. The male swan, or cob, weighs an average of 12 kg. The female, or pen, is slightly smaller, averaging 10 kg. Wings may span 3 m. Young of the year, or cygnets, can be distinguished from adults by their grey plumage, their yellowish legs and feet, and until their second summer of life, their smaller size. The shape and colour of the bill help in identifying the Trumpeter and Tundra swans in the field.

Trumpeters have all black bills; Tundra Swans, formerly called Whistling Swans, have more sloping bills, usually with a small yellow patch in front of the eye. If this patch is missing, it is quite difficult to distinguish between the two birds unless the voice is heard. At close range, an observer should look for a salmon-red line on the lower bill. A third type of swan, the Eurasian Mute Swan, is often seen in Canadian parks and zoos. The Mute is all white with a black knob on a reddish-orange and black bill. The Trumpeter Swan is the largest of the three species. Signs and sounds Although very similar in appearance, the Trumpeter Swan and the Tundra Swan have quite different voices. The Trumpeter Swan has a deep, resonant, brassy, trumpet-like voice; the voice of the Tundra Swan is softer and more melodious. Birds Today's Wildlife Field Identification Guide Duck, American Wigeon (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is brown with white crown, green eye patch; green and white on wings visible in flight. Female is mottled brown with gray head. Both have pale blue bill.

Habitat and Habits: Found on lakes, marshes, and ponds. Makes quacking and whistling sounds. Nests in grasses near water; 9 - 11 cream eggs. Duck, Black (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Sexes are similar. Large brown duck with paler brown head and neck; violet patch on wings. Habitat and Habits: Summers on freshwater and saltwater marshes; winters along coast. Female quacks when separated from male; male makes soft, reedy noise. Nests in depressions in ground, close to water; 6 - 12 eggs, cream to greenish-buff colored. Duck, Blue-Winged Teal (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is brown and buff speckled; gray head with white crescent in front of eye; pale blue patch on wings. Female is brown speckled; smaller pale blue patch on wings. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on small lakes in open grasslands; in winter on marshes and coastal areas. Male peeps; female quacks. Nests in grasses near water; 6 - 15 white eggs.

Duck, Bufflehead (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is mostly white with black back and white patch at back of head. Female is grayish with white patch below eye. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on lakes and rivers near woods; in winter on lakes and coastal areas. Male is usually silent; female quacks. Nests in tree cavities; 8 - 10 buff eggs. Duck, Canvasback (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has white body; reddish head; black breast, bill, and tail. Female has gray body and brown head. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on lakes and marshes; in winter on lakes and coastal waters. Male coos during breeding; female quacks. Nests in reeds and grasses; 7 - 12 greenish eggs. Duck, Cinnamon Teal (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has reddish body, neck, and head with black coloring on top of head, wings, and back. Female is speckled brown with white around bill. Habitat and Habits: Found on lakes and marshes. Male whistles; female quacks.

Nests in grasses; 7 - 12 pinkish eggs. Duck, Eurasian Wigeon (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Male is gray with rust-colored head, pinkish chest, buff-colored crown. Female is mottled brown. Both have large white patches on shoulders and dull blue bill with black tip. Habitat and Habits: Found on lakes, marshes, and ponds. Makes a 1- or 2-note whistling call; usually silent in United States. Nests in grasses hidden in vegetation; 7 - 10 white eggs. Duck, Gadwall (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is gray with light brown head; white patch on back of wing; black rump. Female is mottled brown with white patch on back of wing. Habitat and Habits: Found on open lakes and marshes. Male makes a whistle and “kack-kack.” Nests on islands in colonies; 7 - 13 white eggs.

Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is white with black back and head; head actually purple in bright light; black and white wings; white spot in front of eye; black bill. Female is gray with brown head and white collar; usually a yellow-orange bill. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on wooded lakes and rivers; in winter on coastal areas. Male grunts and croaks during courtship; female is mostly silent. Nests in hollow trees or rock crevices; 5 - 15 pale olive-colored eggs. Duck, Common Goldeneye (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has white flanks; black head and back with round white spot below eye. Female is gray with dark head and white collar. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on lakes and marshes; in winter on lakes and coastal areas. Male makes a shrill whistle; female a low quack during breeding. Otherwise, usually quiet. Nests in tree cavities; 5 - 15 light green eggs.

Duck, Green-Winged Teal (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is gray with white vertical bar on shoulder; rust head with green band. Female is speckled dark brown and white with dark band across eye. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on ponds and lakes; in winter on rivers and coastal marshes. Male whistles; female quacks. Nests in grasses not always near water; 7 - 15 pale green eggs. Duck, Mallard (Puddle Duck) Drake Eclipse Drake Most common duck. Male often called “greenhead.” Habitat and Habits: Found in deep lakes, slow rivers, ponds, and sometimes bays. Main wintering area is the lower Mississippi basin and along the Gulf Coast; many as far north as open waters permit. Female quacks loudly; male makes quiet “yeeb” or low “kwek.” Nests near water; 8 - 10 greenish-white eggs. Duck, Common Merganser (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has dark green head; dark back; white neck and underside. Female is grayish-brown with reddish-brown head and white breast.

Habitat and Habits: In summer found on lakes and rivers near woods; in winter on freshwater lakes and ponds. Nests in tree cavities and rock crevices; 8 - 11 cream eggs. Duck, Hooded Merganser (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has dark crested head with white patches, brownish sides, and white breast. Female is gray with reddish-brown crest and lighter gray breast. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on rivers and lakes in wooded areas; in winter on coastal areas. Male makes a croak-like sound; female a “gak.” Nests in tree cavities; 6 - 18 white eggs. Duck, Red-Breasted Merganser (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has dark green head, white neck, rusty red breast, and gray sides. Female is gray speckled with light red head and grayish neck. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on rivers and lakes; in winter on coastal areas. Nests under shrubs and logs; 5 - 11 greenish eggs.

Duck, Northern Pintail (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Long-necked, slender duck with pointed tail. Male has dark brown head; white breast and neck; gray flanks and wings. Female has light brown-speckled body; light brown head and neck; gray bill. Habitat and Habits: Summers on marshes and ponds; winters on coastal bays, lakes, and grain fields. Female quacks coarsely; male whistles. Nests near water; 6 - 12 light green eggs. Duck, Northern Shoveler (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has dark green head; white breast; rust-colored wings. Female is brown-flecked with pale blue on shoulders. Habitat and Habits: Found on shallow lakes and ponds, and sometimes on brackish marshes. Male croaks; female quacks. Nests in grasses, not always near water; 6 - 14 pale green eggs. Duck, Redhead (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is gray with reddish head and black breast. Female is brown with darker brown back and crown. Habitat and Habits: Found on lakes and bays.

Male makes “meow” sound or quacks; female makes a soft low call. Nests in rushes and grasses; 9 - 13 pale eggs. Duck, Ring-Necked (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is black with pale gray sides. Female is brown with darker back and has white-ringed eyes. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on lakes and marshes; in winter on large lakes and coastal areas. Nests in grasses near water; 6 - 14 pale green eggs. Duck, Ruddy (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male is reddish-brown with black head and white cheek; in winter male looks similar to female. Female is brown; darker on head and back. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on lakes; in winter on coastal areas. Both sexes are mostly silent. Nests in grasses near water; 6 - 10 white eggs. Duck, Greater Scaup (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has light gray body and white sides with dark head, breast, and tail. Female is dark brown with white spots on either side of bill.

Heads on both are shaped like a rounded rectangle. Light band on edge of wings extends almost to the tip. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on lakes, bays, and ponds; in winter often found on salt water and coastal ponds. Male makes a “scaup, scaup” call; female is mostly silent. Nests in grasses on land or on islands away from shore; 8 - 12 pale green eggs. Duck, Lesser Scaup (Diving Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has white flanks with dark head, breast, and tail; speckled gray back. Female is dark brown with white spots on either side of bill base. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on lakes and marshes; in winter on lakes and coastal areas. Male makes a purring call; females are mostly silent. Nests in grasses near water; 8 - 14 pale green eggs. Duck, Whistling (Diving Duck) Fulvous Black-bellied Male and female fulvous duck have reddish-brown body with darker back. Male and female black-bellied duck have gray head, light brown back, black underside, and white on sides.

Habitat and Habits: Fulvous is found in fields, ponds, and marshes; black-bellied on ponds and marshes. All make a whistling call. Fulvous nests in grasses; black-bellied in tree cavities. Both have 12 - 14 whitish eggs. Duck, Wood (Puddle Duck) Drake Hen Eclipse Drake Male has colorful crested head and red eyes; iridescent greens, purples, and blues over entire body with white marking. Female is light brown speckled and has white-ringed eyes. Habitat and Habits: Found on swamps, ponds, and rivers near wooded areas. Male makes a “hoo-w-ett” call; female a “oo-eek.” Nests in tree cavities; 10 - 15 dull whitish eggs. Goose, Canada Both male and female are brownish-gray; black head and tail; white patch on cheek, breast, and underside. Habitat and Habits: Found on lakes, marshes, fields, and parks. Male and female make honking call. Nests on water edges; 4 - 7 white eggs.

Goose, Snow Immature (above); Adult (below) Male and female are white with dark gray on underside of wings; short neck; large head. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on tundra; in winter on fields and wetlands. Male and female both honk. Nests in grasses near water in colonies; 3 - 5 white eggs. Goose, Greater White-Fronted Immature (above); Adult (below) Male and female are brown with white ring around base of bill; black bars on belly; orange bill and feet. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on tundra; in winter on fields and marshes. Male and female make a high-pitched “kow-kow-kow-kow.” Nests in depressions; 4 - 7 whitish eggs. Swan, Trumpeter Adult (above); Immature (below) One of the largest, rarest North American waterfowl. All white with a black bill. (Swans, unlike snow geese, do not have black wingtips.

Also, swans are much larger and have longer necks than snow geese.) Habitat and Habits: Almost driven into extinction, their numbers have been increasing due to conservation efforts. Prefer bodies of water with dense vegetation. Found in marshes, lakes, and rivers mostly in the Northwest.Nests in bulrushes and beaver lodges; 4 - 6 whitish eggs. Swan, Tundra Immature (above); Adult (below) Credit:Joanna Littlefield Most common swan in western part of North America. All white; black bill with yellow spot in front of eye. Habitat and Habits: In summer found on artic tundra; in winter on marshes, lakes, and ponds. Makes a "hoo-ho-hoo" or "kow-wow" call. Nests on mounds of grass on island or shore of tundra lake; 2 - 7 cream-colored eggs. North American Flyways North American Flyways There are four major North American flyways—the Pacific, the Central, the Mississippi, and the Atlantic Flyways. The migration route is from the northern breeding grounds to the southern wintering grounds.

The lanes of heaviest concentration conform very closely to major topographical features, following the coasts, mountain ranges, and principal river valleys. Except along the coasts, the flyway boundaries are not always sharply defined. Pacific Flyway Central Flyway Mississippi Flyway Atlantic Flyway Credits: Except as otherwise noted, all illustrations are reprinted from U.S. Parks & Wildlife Service publication Ducks At A Distance, A Waterfowl Identification Guide, illustrated by Bob Hines Wildlife Guide Bird Behavior Pre-Programmed & Learned Behavior In another section we see that young pigeons don't need to learn how to fly, that their knowledge of flying is innate. In this section some facts are stated that cause some to begin thinking that birds are nothing but mindless little machines. To keep that idea from taking root, take a look at the photo at the left. Cindy Mead in Michigan took that picture of a Cedar Waxwing during a heavy snow and sent it to us. She said that the bird was catching snowflakes. I replied that surely it was disgorging fruit "pits," or seeds, after having a big meal of something like Hackberry fruits.

I've seen them eat several such fruits, then fly to a perch and as their stomachs removed the fruits' fleshy parts the birds would "cough up" the hard pits. However, Cindy replied, "they were definitely catching snow because some were 'pecking' at the air. No pits were spit." So, as Cindy said, "Just when you think you've seen it all..." birds do something really unpredictable. I felt the same way when I first saw White-throated Sparrows taking "dew baths" -- flying into dew-wet leaves of mesquite trees in Mexico to wet their bodies as a form of bathing.. Anyway, let's think about innate behavior a little more. Here's another observation about White-crowned Sparrows: Even when newly hatched White-crowned Sparrows are kept where they can't hear any kind of bird songs, when they're about a month old they begin singing simple notes. This bird babble, known technically as subsong, continues for about two months. When the birds are about 100 days old, their subsong "crystallizes" into a form that thereafter doesn't change much.

The singing of White-crowned Sparrows of this age who have never heard other birds of their species sing is not nearly as rich and pleasant to hear as that produced by birds who have grown up hearing their own species' songs. Nonetheless, experienced birders can definitely hear the White-crowned Sparrow element in their song. Think about it: The particular melody a bird sings is at least partly innate. Birds are actually born with the melodies of their species' song implanted in them! If recordings of fully developed bird songs from a number of different bird species are played to young White-crowned Sparrows during their babbling stage, somehow the young sparrows pick out the song of their own species from all the rest -- even though they've never heard a well developed White-crowned Sparrow song before -- and begin imitating it. Moreover, if the young birds are ever to sing their own species' song perfectly, it's absolutely necessary that they hear properly sung songs before they reach about seven weeks of age. In other words, there's a window of time when the song must be heard. This "window" is known as the sensitive period.

If birds hear their song only before or after the sensitive period, they'll never produce fully developed, beautiful White-crowned Sparrow songs. Innate behavior is hardly evident only in pigeons and White-crowned Sparrows. One of the most striking cases of innate behavior in birds has been documented by placing a "window" in an incubating chicken egg, and watching the unhatched chick as it develops. Unhatched chicks move their heads, open and close their beaks, and even make pecking movements. Clearly, nothing has taught the unhatched chicks to peck. They are simply created with the pecking urge, or instinct. The same is true when a Canvasback duckling has just hatched, and immediately after drying off can walk, swim, and, if necessary, dive below the water's surface -- even if the duckling has been hatched in an incubator, and couldn't have possibly learned walking, swimming, and diving from any other creature. Some innate behavior doesn't appear until the bird is an adult.

When a female Canvasback duck is about a year old and builds her first nest, she builds a nest exactly like all other Canvasbacks, even if she has been kept in isolation, and couldn't have learned Canvasback nest-building technique from another duck. An important point about the pecking chicks inside incubating, unhatched eggs is that they begin pecking movements at a predictable time in their development -- about seventeen days after the egg is laid. It's as if incubating chicks were computers loading a program, and at a particular point in the program the command goes out, "Begin pecking movements." The same kind of thing happens with humans. We learn languages incredibly fast at a certain young age, but it's much harder both before and after that age. It's fun to think about this subject. For example, in you, what's learned, and what's innate... ?

Birds Vol 2 #1 – The Canvas-back Duck | Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus Birdwatching from a Christian Perspective Menu Disclaimer About Bible Version Usage Copyright © Lee, a j mithra, April, Guest Authors, the Photographers and Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus, 2008-2012. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lee, April, Guest Authors, the Photographers and Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Also, please honor the copyrights of articles and photos we have received permission to use. Birds Vol 2 #1 – The Canvas-back Duck The Canvasback Duck, Birds Illustrated by Color Photography, 1897 THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK. HITE-BACK, Canard Cheval, (New Orleans,) Bull-Neck, and Red-Headed Bull-Neck, are common names of the famous Canvas-Back, which nests from the northern states, northward to Alaska. Its range is throughout nearly all of North America, wintering from the Chesapeake southward to Guatemala.

“The biography of this duck,” says Mabel Osgood Wright, “belongs rather to the cook-book than to a bird list,” even its most learned biographers referring mainly to its “eatable qualities,” Dr. Coues even taking away its character in that respect when he says “there is little reason for squealing in barbaric joy over this over-rated and generally under-done bird; not one person in ten thousand can tell it from any other duck on the table, and only then under the celery circumstances,” referring to the particular flavor of its flesh, when at certain seasons it feeds on vallisneria, or “water celery,” which won its fame. This is really not celery at all, but an eel-grass, not always found through the range of the Canvas-Back. When this is scarce it eats frogs, lizards, tadpoles, fish, etc., so that, says Mrs. Osgood, “a certificate of residence should be sold with every pair, to insure the inspiring flavor.” The opinion held as to the edible qualities of this species varies greatly in different parts of the country.

No where has it so high a reputation as in the vicinity of Chesapeake Bay, where the alleged superiority of its flesh is ascribed to the abundance of “water celery.” That this notion is erroneous is evident from the fact that the same plant grows in far more abundance in the upper Mississippi Valley, where also the Canvas-Back feeds on it. Hence it is highly probable that fashion and imagination, or perhaps a superior style of cooking and serving, play a very important part in the case. In California, however, where the “water celery” does not grow, the Canvas-Back is considered a very inferior bird for the table. It has been hunted on Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries with such inconsiderate greed that its numbers have been greatly reduced, and many have been driven to more southern waters. In and about Baltimore, the Canvas-Back, like the famous terrapin, is in as high favor for his culinary excellence, as are the women for beauty and hospitality. To gratify the healthy appetite of the human animal this bird was doubtless sent by a kind Providence, none the less mindful of the creature comforts and necessities of mankind than of the purely aesthetic senses. Summary CANVAS-BACK.—Aythya vallisneria.

Other names: “White-Back,” “Bull-Neck,” “Red-Headed Bull-Neck.” Range—North America. Breeds only in the interior, from northwestern states to the Arctic circle; south in winter to Guatemala. Nest—On the ground, in marshy lakesides. Eggs—Six to ten; buffy white, with bluish tinge. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) by Daves BirdingPix Lee’s Addition: The Canvas-Back Duck is now the Canvasback (Aythya valisineria). Wikipedia (with editing) says The Canvasback is the largest of the North American diving ducks, that ranges from between 19–22 in (48–56 centimetres) long and weighs approximately 1.90–3.50 lbs (862–1,588 gram), with a wingspan of 31–35 in (79–89 centimetres). The canvasback has a distinctive wedge-shaped head and long graceful neck.

The adult male (drake) has a black bill, a chestnut red head and neck, a black breast, a grayish back, black rump, and a blackish brown tail. The drake’s sides, back, and belly are white with fine vermiculation resembling the weave of a canvas, which gave rise to the bird’s common name. The bill is blackish and the legs and feet are bluish-gray. The iris is bright red in the spring, but duller in the winter. The adult female (hen) also has a black bill, a light brown head and neck, grading into a darker brown chest and foreback. The sides, flanks, and back are grayish brown. The bill is blackish and the legs and feet are bluish-gray. Its sloping profile distinguishes it from other ducks. The breeding habitat of the Canvasback is in North America prairie potholes. The bulky nest is built from vegetation in a marsh and lined with down. Loss of nesting habitat has caused populations to decline.

(That and apparently the killing of them per the article.) It prefers to nest over water on permanent prairie marshes surrounded by emergent vegetation, such as cattail and bulrushes, which provide protective cover. Other important breeding areas are the subarctic river deltas in Saskatchewan and the interior of Alaska. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) with young ©WikiC It has a clutch size of approximately 5-11 eggs that are a greenish drab. The chicks are covered in down at hatching and able to leave the nest soon after. The Canvasback sometimes lays its eggs in other Canvasback nests and Redheads often parasitize Canvasback nests. In the early 1950s it was estimated that there were 225,000 Canvasbacks wintering in the Chesapeake Bay; this represented one-half of the entire North American population. By 1985, there were only 50,000 ducks wintering there, or one-tenth of the population. Canvasbacks were extensively hunted around the turn of the 19th to 20th century, but federal hunting regulations restrict their harvest, so hunting was ruled out as a cause for the decline.

Scientists have now concluded that the decline in duck populations was due to the decline in submerged aquatic vegetation acreage. Today the population has stabilized and is even increasing slightly, although it is nowhere near previous levels. * Birds Illustrated by Color Photography – Revisited The above article is an article in the monthly serial for May 1897 “designed to promote Knowledge of Bird-Live.” These include Color Photography, as they call them, today they are drawings. There are at least three Volumes that have been digitized by Project Gutenberg . To see the whole series of – Birds Illustrated by Color Photography – Revisited * (Information from Wikipedia and other internet sources) Next Article – The Wood Duck

Question: What type of creature is a canvasback?
Answer: Duck