Species, Age and Sex Identification of Ducks Using Wing Plumage

Separation of Redhead and Canvasback

Adult male canvasbacks have much more white on the upper surface of their wings than any other age-sex category of redhead or canvasback. All other canvasbacks have much darker secondaries than those of all redheads. Thus, the contrast between secondary coverts and secondaries is greater on wings of redheads of all age and sex groups than it is on the wings of adult female or immature canvasbacks of either sex.

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