Ruddy Duck - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

ORDER: Anseriformes
FAMILY: Anatidae (Ducks and Geese - 52 Species)
SUB-FAMILY: Anatinae
SPECIES: Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Ruddy Duck
As a result of the escape of Ruddy Ducks from wildfowl collections in Great Britain, they are now widely established there. Now they are spreading into Europe. This duck's aggressive courting behavior and willingness to interbreed with the endangered native White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) of southern Europe has caused concern. Due to this, there is now a controversial scheme to extirpate (totally do away with) the Ruddy Duck as a British breeding species.
SIZE	The Ruddy Duck is a rather small (14-16") duck with a chunky, thick-neck, large head and broad bill.
DESCRIPTION	Male: Deep chestnut-colored plumage with a black cap, sky-blue bill with a white streak on their cheeks and stiff fan shaped tail. Female: have a gray/brown body with a grayish face with a darker bill, cap and a cheek stripe.
NESTING	Clutch size ranges from 6-14 eggs, which are incubated in 24 to 26 days. Nests are built slightly above the normal water level in dense marsh vegetation. The female builds a platform of grasses and cattails and lines it with down.
RANGE	The Ruddy Duck generally range along the coastlines of North America and north to British Columbia and Massachusetts.
HABITAT	Their breeding habitat is marshy lakes and ponds throughout much of North America.
DIET	Seeds and tubers from aquatic vegetation, mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic insects and some small fish are also eaten.

INTERESTING FACTS

Bird Bath

Bathing plays a significant role in the maintenance of health and contentment for many bird species. Because fresh clean water can sometimes be the hardest necessity for birds to come by. In fact, a birdbath is one of the easiest ways to bring birds up close, where you can get a really good look at them. You can attract even more species of birds with water than with a feeder.
A bird bath should be no deeper than three inches at the center and it should be even shallower at the edge. If you already own a deep birdbath, you can put rocks in it to raise the bottom.

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.




Ruddy Duck

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Seneca County, New York


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Scarlet Tanager Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes