canvasback

noun can·vas·back \ ˈkan-vəs-ˌbak \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Definition of canvasback

: 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

See canvasback defined for kids

Recent Examples of canvasback from the Web

Other species confirmed for the first time in this edition of the atlas include Mississippi kite, blue grosbeak and canvasback.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bird survey finds 224 species breeding in Wisconsin," 6 Jan. 2018
Species seeing a decline included mallards (11 percent), American wigeon (19 percent), green-winged teal (16 percent), redhead (13 percent), canvasback (1 percent) and scaup (12 percent).

— todd masson, NOLA.com, "Most Louisiana hunters will be thrilled with annual duck report," 15 Aug. 2017
Hunters regularly travel from across the continent to the marshes of South Louisiana for the opportunity to kill a drake canvasback over decoys.

— todd masson, NOLA.com, "Canvasback to be featured species in 2018 duck-stamp competition," 6 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'canvasback.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.