Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck, male, breeding plumage

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Ruddy Duck, female, February

Ruddy Duck, male, nonbreeding plumage

Ruddy Ducks, male (R), female (L), breeding plumage, Colorado, June

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Other Names
4. Full detailed species account

A member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," the Ruddy Duck has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Description

• Small duck.
• Large white cheek patches.
• Dark cap.
• Bill blue or bluish.
• Long tail often held up.
• Breeding male bright cinnamon red.

• Size: 35-43 cm (14-17 in)
• Wingspan: 56-62 cm (22-24 in)
• Weight: 300-850 g (10.59-30.01 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male with bright white cheeks; reddish in breeding plumage. Female browner with dark line through cheek patch.

Sound

Usually silent except in courtship. Male makes series of muffled popping noises.

Other Names

Canard roux (French)
Pato zambullidor (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Brua, R. B. 2001. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 696 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.