Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) lives in freshwater wetlands across North America. It feeds on insects and plants. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Ruddy Duck
- Ruddy ducks can dive a full meter beneath the water's surface with a single power stroke of their feet, then filter mud with their spatulate bills to capture tiny larvae and crustaceans.
- Male ruddy ducks perform a unique "bubbling" display, beating their lower mandible against their breast so hard that bubbles rise to the surface, a visual signal used in both aggression and courtship.
- Ruddy ducks are exceptionally fast swimmers but clumsy on land because their legs sit far back on their bodies, making walking awkward while providing powerful propulsion in water. This trade-off explains why they rarely fly, preferring to stay submerged or glide just above the water's surface.
- Introduced to Britain in the 1960s, ruddy ducks exploded to about 5,500 individuals by 2000, prompting a costly cull that killed 6,500 birds at £5 million total, or £769 per bird. By early 2014 the British population fell to just 20-100 birds. This dramatic rise and fall illustrate how a single invasive species can trigger massive management expenses and highlight the importance of early detection.
- Ruddy duck females lay 6-10 large white eggs, each measuring 5.9-6.8 cm long and 4.3-4.8 cm wide, and incubate them for 23-26 days. Eggs measure 5.9-6.8 cm (2.3-2.7 in) in length and 4.3-4.8 cm (1.7-1.9 in) in width. The female will incubate the eggs for 23-26 days whilst being protected by her mate.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeNorth America
HabitatFreshwater wetlands
DietInsects and plants
About the Ruddy Duck
In the warm, golden light of a summer's evening, the Ruddy Duck glides effortlessly across the water, its chestnut plumage glistening like polished leather as it navigates the intricate network of aquatic vegetation with quiet confidence. With each stroke of its powerful legs, the duck sends ripples spreading outward, a testament to its mastery of this intimate, hidden world, where the boundaries between water and land are blurred. As it dives beneath the surface, its bright blue bill snaps shut with lightning speed, capturing the unsuspecting insects that dart through the sun-dappled shallows.
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