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Platte River Status: An abundant migrant, especially in spring, and a rare summer resident; casual winter resident. Tout (1947) recorded redhead only as a migrant in Lincoln County, present 16 March to 12 June, and 8 October to 6 December. Rosche (1979) stated that redhead was primarily a migrant present 11 March to 6 May, and 3 October to 28 December in the lower North Platte River Valley. Apparently rare on Keystone Lake, Keith County during 18 July to 19 August 1977 (Rosche 1979).

Breeding Range: Restricted during the breeding season to the Sandhills and the Rainwater Basin area of the Eastern Plain, where it is a rare summer resident.

Breeding Population: We failed to record redhead on our random census plots in 1979-1980. Based on the low frequency of occurrence during the breeding season, we believe that no more than 25 pairs nest annually in our study area.

Habitat: Redhead appears to prefer large semipermanent wetlands with a high degree of interspersion of open water and emergent vegetation within the study area. Faanes (1982) found that nesting redhead on a central North Dakota study area were restricted primarily to semipermanent wetlands. Kantrud and Stewart (1972) reported that highest densities of breeding redhead across North Dakota occurred on semipermanent wetlands (29.6 pairs/km²), followed by seasonal wetlands (7.4 pairs/km²).

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Destruction of wetlands in the Rainwater Basin area has probably more severely impacted breeding habitat of the redhead than any other waterfowl species within the study area. Apparently the Rainwater Basins formerly hosted a large breeding population of redheads. However, today this species rarely occurs there during the breeding season.

Nesting Data: We have no current records of confirmed nesting in the study area, although Swanson (1954) stated that redhead had nested recently in southeastern Merrick County. Egg dates in North Dakota extend from 5 May to 10 August (Stewart 1975).