Redhead
Redhead has surged: up 121% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
About the Redhead
The Redhead (Aythya americana) is a North American member of the Ducks, Geese & Waterfowl (Anatidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the waterfowl.
- Size
- 12–43.5 in long (30–110 cm) — a medium to large waterfowl (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes and sheltered coastal waters.
- Diet
- Aquatic plants, seeds and invertebrates, dabbled at the surface or dived for.
- Range
- Recorded on 322 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 23 states, most concentrated in the Great Basin.
- Family
- Anatidae · Waterfowl
Notable Redhead Trends
Redhead has surged in surveyed states: up 121% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
Redhead Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Redhead is projected to rise about 12% by 2029 — from 0.26 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.29 (95% range 0.10–0.48). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±18.7%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
| Year | Projected index | 95% low | 95% high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.28 | 0.10 | 0.47 |
| 2026 | 0.29 | 0.10 | 0.47 |
| 2027 | 0.29 | 0.10 | 0.48 |
| 2028 | 0.29 | 0.10 | 0.48 |
| 2029 | 0.29 | 0.10 | 0.48 |
Where the Redhead Is Detected
BBS routes recording Redhead, sized by most recent count.
Redhead Population Trend by State
| Alaska | insufficient data | n/a | 3 |
| Arizona | insufficient data | n/a | 2 |
| California | +122% | 1972 | 22 |
| Colorado | -17% | 1977 | 27 |
| Idaho | -89% | 1971 | 16 |
| Iowa | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| Kansas | -47% | 1970 | 4 |
| Michigan | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| Minnesota | -66% | 1970 | 18 |
| Montana | +120% | 1972 | 30 |
| Nebraska | +84% | 1978 | 16 |
| Nevada | -52% | 1971 | 15 |
| New Mexico | -89% | 1978 | 6 |
| New York | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| North Dakota | +755% | 1969 | 38 |
| Oklahoma | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| Oregon | +239% | 1971 | 15 |
| South Dakota | -66% | 1969 | 32 |
| Texas | -51% | 1978 | 10 |
| Utah | -50% | 1986 | 21 |
| Washington | -21% | 1977 | 21 |
| Wisconsin | insufficient data | n/a | 2 |
| Wyoming | +116% | 1981 | 20 |
Redhead Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
| Great Basin | +64% | 1970 | 80 |
| Northern Rockies | +147% | 1972 | 31 |
| Prairie Potholes | +162% | 1969 | 73 |
| Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau | -66% | 1980 | 29 |
| Badlands and Prairies | +471% | 1975 | 38 |
| Shortgrass Prairie | -96% | 1977 | 24 |
| Central Mixed Grass Prairie | -79% | 1969 | 16 |
| Prairie Hardwood Transition | -67% | 1978 | 6 |
| Coastal California | +33% | 1974 | 7 |
Redhead Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 121% since 1969.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.