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The aristocrat among ducks is the Canvasback, named after the drake's white back. They can
be distinguished by their sloping foreheads and long bills. The hen's slight brown colouring
is more subdued than the striking plumage of her mate. The Canvasback breeds on small permanent marshes,
but rarely along large stretches of open water. Once a common bird, the Canvasback is now
growing scarce. It is a hearty duck which arrives very early in spring, nests in the
parklands of Western Canada and returns south when the waters of the North become frozen.
For more information on the Canvasback duck, why not contact the Canadian Wildlife Service
in Ottawa.