Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 15,632 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Canvasback: observations by month (U.S.)
About Canvasback
The canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is a species of diving duck, the largest found in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Canvasback by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,673 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Texas | 2,300 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Maryland | 996 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Arizona | 594 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Oregon | 538 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Ohio | 456 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Illinois | 429 | March | Nov–Mar |
| Florida | 389 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Washington | 361 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Pennsylvania | 337 | February | Jan–Mar |
| New York | 313 | February | Nov–Mar |
| New Mexico | 289 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Michigan | 280 | February | Jan–May |
| Colorado | 267 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Virginia | 262 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Wisconsin | 232 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Minnesota | 223 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 207 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Idaho | 206 | April | Jan–Apr |
| Tennessee | 192 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Utah | 187 | February | Nov–Apr |
| Nevada | 173 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 146 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Delaware | 110 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Alaska | 108 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 104 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Kansas | 101 | February | Oct–Mar |
| Louisiana | 99 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Montana | 96 | April | Mar–Jul |
| North Dakota | 90 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 82 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Georgia | 78 | February | Nov–Feb |
| Indiana | 78 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Alabama | 63 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Massachusetts | 62 | January | Dec–Jan |
| West Virginia | 61 | February | Jan–Feb |
| South Dakota | 55 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Nebraska | 48 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Mississippi | 46 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Wyoming | 44 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Iowa | 42 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Vermont | 39 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Arkansas | 37 | February | Dec–Feb |
| South Carolina | 32 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Kentucky | 26 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Connecticut | 18 | January | Dec–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 18 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Maine | 16 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Hawaii | 14 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Rhode Island | 9 | February | Dec–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
Mallard
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Duck
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Canvasback?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from November to March.
Where is Canvasback most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Maryland.