The Redhead is a medium-sized diving duck that appears regularly in Arizona during migration and winter. Adult males sport a rounded, cinnamon-red head, black breast and tail, and pale gray body, while females are more subdued, with warm brown plumage. These ducks congregate in freshwater lakes, marshes, and reservoirs—from Alamo Lake and the San Simon marshes in the east to the Lower Colorado River and Saguaro and Roosevelt lakes in central Arizona—where they feed by diving for submerged vegetation (especially pondweeds) and aquatic invertebrates. Peak numbers occur November through March, although a few may linger into early spring. Breeding is exceptionally rare within the state, making their winter flocks a highlight for Arizona waterfowl enthusiasts.
