canvasback

canvasback
/kan"veuhs bak'/, n., pl. canvasbacks, (esp. collectively) canvasback.
a North American wild duck, Aythya valisineria, the male of which has a whitish back and a reddish-brown head and neck.
[1595-1605, Amer.; after the canvaslike color of its back]

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Diving duck (Aythya valisineria), one of the most popular game birds.

The male weighs about 3 lb (1.4 kg). During the breeding season he has a red head and neck and a black breast, with a white back and sides finely lined in gray. In eclipse (nonbreeding) plumage, he resembles the female, with a tan head and gray-brown back. Canvasbacks breed in northwestern North America and winter along the coasts from British Columbia and Massachusetts south to central Mexico. They prefer the roots of wild celery (eelgrass) but will eat many other plants and even some small animals.

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bird
      (species Aythya valisineria), bay duck, or pochard (q.v.), of the family Anatidae, one of the most popular of game birds. The male canvasback is a relatively large duck, weighing about 1.4 kg (3 pounds). During the breeding season he has a red head and neck and a black breast, with white back and sides finely lined in gray. In eclipse plumage he resembles the female, with tan head and gray-brown back. Canvasbacks breed in northwestern North America and winter along the coasts from British Columbia and Massachusetts south to central Mexico. Canvasbacks prefer the roots of wild celery (eelgrass) where it is available but will eat many other plants and even some animal foods.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • canvasback — ☆ canvasback [kan′vəsbak΄ ] n. pl. canvasbacks or canvasback [< the grayish, canvaslike appearance of the back] a large, North American wild duck (Aythya valisneria) with a brownish red head, dark breast, and light gray back, hunted as a game… …   English World dictionary

  • Canvasback — Can vas*back , n. (Zo[ o]l.) A Species of duck ({Aythya vallisneria}), esteemed for the delicacy of its flesh. It visits the United States in autumn; particularly Chesapeake Bay and adjoining waters; so named from the markings of the plumage on… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Canvasback — Taxobox name = Canvasback status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 image width = 200px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Anseriformes familia = Anatidae genus = Aythya species = A. valisineria binomial = Aythya valisineria… …   Wikipedia

  • canvasback — noun A North American wild duck, Aythya valisineria, popular as a game bird. Yesterday, I received a great present from Mr. Webster, from Washington; a large basket of canvasback ducks and a large turkey …   Wiktionary

  • canvasback — ilgasnapė rudagalvė antis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Aythya valisineria angl. canvasback vok. Riesentafelente, f rus. длинноносый красноголовый нырок, m pranc. fuligule à dos blanc, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas –… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • canvasback — noun North American wild duck valued for sport and food • Syn: ↑canvasback duck, ↑Aythya valisineria • Hypernyms: ↑duck • Member Holonyms: ↑Aythya, ↑genus Aythya …   Useful english dictionary

  • canvasback duck — noun North American wild duck valued for sport and food • Syn: ↑canvasback, ↑Aythya valisineria • Hypernyms: ↑duck • Member Holonyms: ↑Aythya, ↑genus Aythya * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • canvasback — noun Date: 1782 a North American wild duck (Aythya valisineria) that has a reddish brown head, black breast, and whitish body and is characterized especially by the elongate sloping profile of the bill and head …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • canvasback — n. type of American duck …   English contemporary dictionary

  • canvasback — noun a North American diving duck related to the pochard. [Aythya valisineria.] …   English new terms dictionary

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