Canvasback

Canvasback photographed in Manitoba

Among the ducks, the canvasback has a regal profile, with a long sloping forehead that runs unbroken into the bill. The drake’s rich chestnut head, black chest, and pale grey back make him one of the most striking ducks on the water. It is the largest of the diving ducks in North America.

Canvasbacks nest in prairie marshes, including the famous Delta Marsh on Lake Manitoba. They dive for the roots and tubers of aquatic plants, and the species is named for the pale, canvas-coloured back of the male. Many pass through Manitoba in spring and fall, gathering in large rafts on open water.

The long sloping profile and rich red head of a male canvasback make it a very elegant duck.

Want to learn more about the canvasback and where it lives? Visit its page at All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

  • Male canvasback swimming among reeds, rust-red head and white body
  • Female canvasback swimming with her fluffy ducklings in front of green reeds, Manitoba
  • Canvasback - group of ducks including redheads swimming on blue water

Canvasback Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the canvasback in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the canvasback nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the canvasback in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Plains and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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