Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
ANATIDAE Members: Redhead 175
General Comments
As with the Canvasback, the Redhead had suffered continental population declines in recent decades, but wintering numbers in the state now seem to be rebounding, and the peak counts are now from the past few years. Its winter range is quite localized, with several favored feeding grounds -- mostly Core Sound and the Pea Island/Pamlico Sound area -- hosting a few thousand birds, often in dense mono-specific flocks. Over 90% of the wintering population feeds in shallow sounds/bays; birds seen on coastal lakes and impoundments are often simply roosting or sleeping. However, the species does forage in fresh water, such as on larger lakes and impoundments.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
S3N
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Winter resident. Generally uncommon along the northern coast and in the Tidewater area, south to Core Sound and the lower Neuse River; abundant in a few areas: Core Sound, and Pamlico Sound adjacent to Pea Island NWR (as well as on several impoundments on the refuge). Rare to locally uncommon inland and farther south along the coast. Mainly late Oct to mid-Apr, but a handful of summer records. Peak count: 18,000, Pea Island NWR, 28 Dec 2015; 15,000 just on South pond at that refuge, 8 Dec 2018; 10,000, Pea Island, 16 Jan and 27 Jan 2017; 10,000, Core Sound near Ophelia Inlet (Carteret), 19 Feb 2017. A count of 180 at two ponds along US 64 in Edgecombe, 9 Mar 2014, was quite high for an inland site.
Piedmont
Winter visitor/resident. Rare to locally uncommon, mostly in the eastern portion of the province. Generally mid-Nov to mid-Mar. Peak counts: 150, Blewett Falls Lake, 28 Feb 2001.
Mountain
Winter visitor; rare to locally uncommon, essentially at lower elevations (below 3,000 feet). Mainly mid-Nov to mid-Mar, rarely to late Apr. Two in Henderson lingered as late as 14 May 2017. Peak counts: 318, Ecusta Pond (Transylvania), 1 Mar 2019; 132, Lake Julian, 28 Feb 2001; 110 at this lake, 20 Nov 1988.
Finding Tips
One or two dense flocks winter on South Pond, New Field, and/or North Pond at Pea Island, and thus the species is normally easy to find in this area. Several thousand winter in Core Sound, but they are hard to see well. At other accessible sites, scattered birds are at times seen along the Lake Mattamuskeet causeway, US 70 in eastern Carteret, and from various ferries. Except for Core Sound and Pea Island, Redheads are generally found as scattered birds in large rafts of other divers such as Lesser Scaups, Canvasbacks, and American Coots.