Redhead
Aythya americana · Round red head, gray back and a three-toned blue bill.
- Length
- 16–21 in
- Weight
- 1.4–3.3 lb
- Wingspan
- 29–31 in
- Group
- Diving duck
Typical adult size. Drakes run larger than hens.
How to identify a redhead
Drake
Round rusty-red head with a steep forehead, yellow eye, black chest, gray body and a pale-blue bill with a white ring and black tip.
Hen
Plain warm brown with a pale face and the same tricolored bill.
In flight
Gray wing stripe on the back of the wing; drakes look dark at both ends with a gray middle.
Look-alikes
- Canvasback: Canvasbacks have a sloping profile, a long black bill and a much whiter back.
- Ring-necked duck: Ring-necked hens have a white eye ring and more peaked heads.
Redhead gallery
Redhead limits in six Mid-South states
| State | Redhead daily limit | Possession | Total daily ducks | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MississippiNov 27–29; Dec 4–6; Dec 9, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | 2 a day | 3 times the daily limit Not confirmed Opening-day possession wording in the Digest (check the official source) | 6 ducks a day | MDWFP Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits · checked Oct 22, 2026 Mississippi rules |
| TennesseeNov 28–29; Dec 5, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | 2 a day | 3 times the daily limit, except 1 times on opening day and 2 times on the second day | 6 ducks a day | TWRA Waterfowl and Migratory Birds · checked Oct 22, 2026 Tennessee rules |
| ArkansasNov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | 2 a day | 3 times the daily limit | 6 ducks a day | AGFC Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Arkansas rules |
| LouisianaEast Zone Nov 21–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 31; West Zone Nov 14–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 24 | 2 a day | 3 times the daily limit | 6 ducks a day | LDWF Seasons and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Louisiana rules |
| MissouriNorth Oct 31–Dec 29; Middle Nov 7–Dec 13 and Dec 19–Jan 10; South Nov 26–29 and Dec 7–Jan 31 | 2 a day | 3 times the daily limit | 6 ducks a day | MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest · checked Oct 22, 2026 Missouri rules |
| KentuckyNov 26–29; Dec 7, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | 2 a day | 3 times the daily limit | 6 ducks a day | KDFWR 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide · checked Oct 22, 2026 Kentucky rules |
Regular-season limits from each state’s official 2026-27 regulations. Possession limits count birds at home too. Federal rules apply on top of state rules, and some WMAs and refuges set stricter limits. Louisiana and Missouri set duck seasons by zone; the dates shown are for every zone.
When and where on public land
Timing
Scattered from November through January, more common in cold winters.
Habitat
Big open lakes and reservoirs with submerged plants.
More diving ducks
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