BIRDS OF NANTUCKET
by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw

Redhead Duck

ANOTHER NANTUCKET DUCK!

This bird is a treat for the new birder. It's so pleasing to have a bird that has a name that describes it, unlike the Red-bellied Woodpecker or the Orange-crowned Warbler. This duck is known as the Redhead and the drake (at least) has a fine rufous-red head. It is a close relative of the Canvasback we talked about last spring, "A Very Famous Duck." Indeed the Canvasback has a superficial resemblance to the Redhead, both having a red head and a black throat. But whereas the Canvasback's back is almost pure white, this week's bird looks grayer. It also has a nice round head compared with the Neanderthal sloping look of the Canvasback.

The Redhead carries the Latin name, Aythya americana, translating loosely to "an American duck-like bird." Other ducks we see here that are part of the genus Aythya include the aforementioned Canvasback, the Tufted Duck (very rare), the Ring-necked Duck, and both the Greater and Lesser Scaup. Being in the same genus means that scientists find these species very closely related. As humans, we are in the genus Homo, and are the sole living members of this species.

This 'American' duck was originally named by the English naturalist and friend of Charles Darwin, Thomas Campbell Eyton back in 1838. At age 21, Thomas wrote a monograph on ducks and named this duck Fuligula americana. Once provided with a species name like americana, that part of the name sticks. Scientists fret over names and this species has been part of three other genuses (genera) over the years, Marila, Nyroca, and now Aythya. This is a group of diving ducks that are mainly dark on both ends and white in the middle (the drakes). The hens are varying shades of unstreaked brown with some white on the head.

Right now the increasingly small patches of open water at Miacomet Pond are full of Ringnecked Ducks and Greater Scaup, both close relatives of the Redhead. Last year at this time, there were as many as 29 Redheads in the North Head of Long Pond, and when the ice starts to melt that will be the best place to look for them again.

Nantucket is one of the best places in New England to see this increasingly rare duck. Historically, Martha's Vineyard hosted more than 1,000 each winter but those days are gone. Rob Culbert, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) compiler over there, tells me there have been none this year. In the '70s and early '80s our CBCs found as many as 400 here and on December 30, 2006 we found eight. What is happening to these charming ducks?

To understand this we must look to where they nest, the prairie pothole region of our Dakotas and central Canada. This area is coming under increasing pressure as the potholes are being drained or filled and converted to farmland. Another factor is this duck's great reputation with hunters. The same source that comments on over a thousand wintering on the Vineyard also speaks of a party of four hunters killing 110 Redheads and scaup ducks in five hours of shooting. Nowadays the bag limits are more reasonable, only two per person per day.

With these lower limits we hope these ducks will recover their numbers. Like most of their kin, it is not unusual to find as many as 15 eggs in a single nest, although this may be misleading. There are lots of nests in close proximity and hens lay their eggs somewhat indiscriminately. Within one nest you may find the eggs of Redheads, Canvasbacks, Ruddy Ducks and Mallards.

The other thing in this duck's favor is longevity. They have been known to live over 22 years in the wild. So even if they have a few years with low productivity, they can recover. But the final key to success for this species is habitat. Like so many birds that nest on Nantucket, they return to their

previous year's nesting spot and find something

completely different. Here it is likely to be gentrified landscaping and a big house. There, it may be an enormous field of corn.

"Birding Nantucket" still shows this species as common on our island from November through the end of March. The north head of Long Pond is the best place to see them. As the ice recedes, park near the first bridge and scan the floating waterfowl for nice round and rusty-red heads. Look for the gray back and the non-sloping forehead. You've found

yourself a Redhead. I

George C. West creates illustrations for these articles. If you enjoy 'social' birding, join the Nantucket Bird Club at 8 a.m. Sundays in front of Nantucket High School for a two to three hour birding trip. Call 228-1693 for more information. To hear about rare birds, or to leave a bird report, call the Massachusetts Audubon hot line at 1-781-259- 8805. Ask Ken a question at: kenandcindy1@comcast. net.