Ruddy Duck: A Complete History of the Bold and Quirky Diver
The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a small but charismatic diving duck that stands out thanks to its compact body, stiff tail, and striking breeding colors. You can easily spot the males in summer with their bright sky-blue bills and chestnut bodies, while the females sport a more subtle brown plumage with a dark line through the face.
These ducks are known not just for their looks but also for their behavior. They often hold their stiff tails upright, almost like a balancing pole, giving them a comical yet charming appearance. Ruddy Ducks are also famous for their unusual courtship display, where males beat their chests with their bills, producing bubbles in the water.
Widespread across North and South America, they’re tough, adaptable, and surprisingly bold for their size. Ruddy Ducks have a unique ability to slowly submerge themselves underwater like a submarine to evade predators.
Ruddy Duck Taxonomy / Classification
- Common Name: Ruddy Duck
- Scientific Name: Oxyura jamaicensis
- Family: Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans)
- Order: Anseriformes
- Class: Aves
Also read: /the-mallard/
They belong to the stiff-tailed duck group, a category of diving ducks with short wings, chunky bodies, and strong legs adapted for underwater swimming.
Ruddy Duck Physical Description
The Ruddy Duck’s look is unique among ducks.
- Size: 36–43 cm (14–17 inches) long.
- Wingspan: 56–62 cm (22–24 inches).
- Weight: 400–800 grams (0.9–1.8 lbs).
- Male (Breeding Season): Bright chestnut body, vivid sky-blue bill, glossy black crown, and white cheeks.
- Male (Non-breeding Season): Plumage turns duller brown with a gray bill.
- The female has a mottled brown body and light-colored cheeks with a unique dark line running across them.
- Bill: Broad and slightly upturned.
- Tail: Long, stiff, often held cocked upward.
Their small wings make them fast flyers, but they’re more at home swimming and diving than in the air.
Habitat and Range of Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Ducks have a wide distribution across the Americas.
- Breeding Range: Prairie wetlands, marshes, and shallow lakes in Canada and the northern U.S.
- Wintering Range: Southern U.S., Mexico, Central America, and as far as northern South America.
- Introduced Populations: Europe (especially the U.K. and Spain), where they became invasive in some areas.
- Preferred Habitat: Shallow freshwater ponds, marshes with emergent vegetation, and protected coastal lagoons.
Migration is seasonal—northern breeders fly south in winter, often forming flocks in warmer wetlands.
Diet and Feeding Habits
The Ruddy Duck is an omnivore that primarily eats aquatic plants and animals.
- Plant Diet: Seeds of pondweeds, grasses, and aquatic plants.
- Animal Diet: Insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and larvae.
- Feeding Method: Diving specialists—use strong legs to propel underwater, often diving 10–20 feet.
- Unique Behavior: They sometimes skim insects from the water’s surface.
Their flexible feeding habits allow them to survive across varied habitats and seasons.
Behavior and Lifestyle
Ruddy Ducks are quirky and entertaining birds.
- Social Behavior: Often seen alone or in small groups, but gather in larger flocks during migration.
- Swimming Style: Sit low in the water with tails sticking up.
- Flight: Quick, buzzy wingbeats; take off with some effort compared to dabbling ducks.
- Vocalizations: Males produce low grunts and popping sounds during courtship.
- Courtship Display: Males beat their bills against their chest, making a drumming sound and creating bubbles—an unusual but impressive display.
- Greylag Geese are most active when they are feeding in the early morning and late afternoon.
These creatures are very dependent on water and seldom venture far from it.
Ruddy Duck Reproduction and Lifespan
Ruddy Ducks follow interesting nesting and breeding habits.
- Breeding Season: Late spring to early summer.
- Nesting Sites: Dense marsh vegetation, cattails, or reeds near shallow wetlands.
- Greylag Geese build their nests out of grasses and line them with down feathers.
- Eggs: Large clutches of 5–10 white eggs, often considered oversized compared to the hen’s body size.
- Incubation: 23–26 days, performed mainly by the female.
- Ducklings: Precocial—leave the nest within a day, can dive and feed themselves.
- Lifespan: Average 2–5 years in the wild, though some live longer.
Interestingly, females may sometimes lay eggs in the nests of other ducks, though less frequently than Redheads.
Predators and Threats
Despite their adaptability, Ruddy Ducks face natural and human-related threats.
- Predators of Adults: Raptors (hawks, eagles), large owls, and foxes.
- Predators of Eggs/Young: Raccoons, skunks, mink, and gulls.
- Human Threats:
- Habitat loss from wetland drainage.
- Pollution, particularly pesticide runoff.
- Hunting (though populations remain stable).
- Invasive Issues: In Europe, hybridization with White-headed Ducks threatened the native species, leading to control efforts.
Ruddy Duck Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
- Population Trend: Stable to increasing in North America.
- Conservation Actions:
- Protection of wetlands through reserves and international treaties.
- Monitoring invasive populations in Europe.
- Hunting regulations to prevent overharvest.
They’re considered a conservation success in North America, though their invasive presence in Europe has required active management.
Interesting Facts About the Ruddy Duck
- Males’ blue bills only appear in breeding season; outside of it, their bills turn gray.
- They’re members of the “stiff-tailed ducks” group, along with Masked Ducks and Argentine Blue-bills.
- Ruddy Ducks can sink silently without splashing when threatened.
- Their eggs are disproportionately large compared to the hen’s body size.
- Courtship involves a unique “bubble display” in the water.
- They were introduced to the U.K. During the 20th century, the trend or movement expanded and became widespread throughout Europe.
- Their stiff tails are used as rudders when diving.
- Despite small size, they’re tough and can endure harsh winters if open water is available.
- Their population in North America numbers in the millions.
- They’re admired for their quirky look and behavior, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.
Conclusion
The Ruddy Duck may be small, but it’s packed with personality. With its comical upright tail, bold breeding colors, and unusual mating displays, it’s a bird that captures attention wherever it’s found. Add to that its adaptability and strong diving ability, and you have a duck that’s both resilient and fascinating.
While populations are stable in North America, ongoing wetland protection is vital to ensure their survival. For birdwatchers, spotting a Ruddy Duck—especially a bright blue-billed male in breeding season—is a memorable highlight.
FAQs About Ruddy Duck
1. What is the scientific name of the Ruddy Duck?
Oxyura jamaicensis.
2. Where do Ruddy Ducks live?
They live in wetlands across North and South America and have introduced populations in Europe.
3. What makes Ruddy Ducks unique?
Their stiff tails, bright blue breeding bills, and unusual bubbling courtship displays.
4. Do Ruddy Ducks migrate?
Yes, northern populations migrate south in winter, while southern ones may be resident.
5. What do Ruddy Ducks eat?
Aquatic plants, seeds, insects, mollusks, and small crustaceans.
6. How long do Ruddy Ducks live?
Typically 2–5 years in the wild.
7. Are Ruddy Ducks endangered?
No, they are classified as Least Concern.
8. Do Ruddy Ducks dive for food?
Yes, they are expert divers, foraging underwater.
9. Why are they called “stiff-tailed” ducks?
Because of their long, stiff tail feathers often held upright.
10. Do Ruddy Ducks cause problems in Europe?
Yes, they interbreed with the endangered White-headed Duck, which has led to the implementation of control measures.
