Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis

With its distinctive blue bill and stiff-tailed posture, this small diving duck has an unusual courtship display.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Ruddy Duck is a compact, stiff-tailed diving duck with a distinctive profile.

Males in breeding plumage have a rich chestnut body, black cap, bright white cheeks, and a striking blue bill. Their fan-shaped tail is often held upright when swimming. Outside of the breeding season, males have much duller gray-brown plumage and a dark gray bill.

Females and non-breeding males are more subdued, with mottled brown plumage and a dark crown stripe. Both sexes have small, concave wings, thick, short necks and enormous webbed feed that is rarely seen out of the water. Juveniles resemble females but with less distinct markings.

Size

Length

35cm to 43cm

Wingspan

53cm to 62cm

Weight

450g to 850g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown Black White

Secondary Colour

Rufous

Beak Colour

Blue Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Black White

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Ruddy Duck can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Ruddy Duck is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Ruddy Ducks inhabit freshwater marshes, ponds, and lakes with abundant emergent vegetation. They breed across western North America, from Alaska to Mexico, and have been introduced to Europe. In winter, they're found in coastal estuaries and large inland water bodies.

In the United States, they're common in the western states and along the Atlantic coast. The largest concentrations occur during the breeding season in South and North Dakota, Southwestern Manitoba, and neighboring states and provinces on either side of the USA/Canada border.

Ruddy Ducks are a controversial bird in the United Kingdom. They are very rare in the wild after a largely successful eradication program that began in 2005, and birdwatchers are encouraged to report sightings. They're also found in parts of mainland Europe and occasionally in New Zealand.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,200 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Ruddy Duck. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons