10 cool Canadian birds that belong that belong on every wingshooter’s bucket list

#3  CANVASBACKS

If a species were required to submit a resumé to be included on this list, the canvasback’s CV would be impressive indeed. It’s the fastest of our ducks, after all, with flight speeds exceeding 120 kph. It’s also the largest and heaviest of Canada’s duck species, with the exception of the common eider. On top of that, canvasbacks are regal and understated in appearance. The males in particular have a gorgeous, chestnut-coloured head, distinctive sloped forehead, striking black breast, shimmering silver back and piercing red eyes. These birds are tasty, too—in the days of market hunting, a single canvasback commanded more than a pair of mallards. No wonder they’re nicknamed the “King of Ducks.”

Though their breeding territory is largely confined to western Canada, these handsome birds migrate through the Great Lakes, making them available to hunters as far east as southern Quebec. They’re the least populous of Canada’s familiar duck species, so wherever they’re found, they’re considered a prize for waterfowlers. Adding to their allure is the fact you’ll seldom collect a bull canvasback by sheer happenstance. Hunting them effectively requires planning, significant gear in the form of boats, motors and decoys, and a willingness to venture onto big water, often in windy, cold conditions. A canvasback won is a canvasback earned.