Redhead on ice.
We rarely see the Redhead on Vancouver Island they have recently been reported at two locations possibly the same duck. We found it at Beacon Hill Park amongst the Mallards begging for handouts from the local duck feeders. It is smaller than the Mallards quite good at pushing them out of the way when food in involve. Something I just learned is they are parasitic nesters dropping their eggs in a Canvasback's nest which when you think of it is brilliant as they look very similar.
Here is some info from All About Birds, in general, they often lay eggs in the nests of others, but the Redhead carries this to extremes. Female Redheads regularly parasitize each others' nests, as well as the nests of at least 10 other duck species. They also have been known to lay eggs in the nests of American Bittern, and even of the predatory Northern Harrier! Some females may be entirely parasitic, never incubating their own eggs.
