Ruddy Duck

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a small, chunkily built diving duck native to the Americas. Classified as a member of the stiff-tailed duck subfamily (Oxyurinae), this species is renowned for its unique profile, energetic displays, and striking color transitions. Highly aquatic, it spends almost all of its time on the water, showing a strong preference for diving to escape danger rather than taking flight.

Breeding Male

In breeding plumage, the male is unmistakable. It features a rich, chestnut-red body, dark black cap, and stark white cheek patches. Its broad, scoop-shaped bill turns an intense, sky-blue color.

Non-breeding Male

During the fall and winter, the male loses its warm coloration, turning dull brownish-gray overall. The bill fades to a dark slate-gray, but the bright white cheek patch remains a reliable field mark.

Female and Juvenile

Females and young birds are dusky brown with a dark cap and a pale cheek. Notably, a dark horizontal stripe runs across the pale cheek patch, which easily distinguishes them from winter males.

Silhouette

Look for a very compact, short-necked body, a large head, and a long, stiff tail that is frequently cocked straight up at a 45- to 90-degree angle. In flight, they fly low over the water with fast, buzzy wingbeats.

Breeding Range

During the breeding season, Ruddy Ducks inhabit shallow, freshwater wetlands, prairie potholes, and marshes with dense emergent vegetation (such as cattails and bulrushes) across western and central North America.

Wintering Range

They migrate to open, ice-free waters for the winter, including large lakes, reservoirs, brackish estuaries, and protected coastal bays. They are found throughout the United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America during the cold months.

Feeding

Ruddy Ducks are active divers, foraging mainly at night. They sink beneath the surface to plunge their bills into the muddy substrate, using fine lamellae to strain out aquatic insects, larvae, small crustaceans, and plant seeds.

Courtship and Breeding

Males perform elaborate and humorous courtship displays. They tap their bills rapidly against their inflated necks, forcing air out of their feathers to create a bubbling hiss on the water's surface, ending with a low belch. They also cock their tails forward and run across the water.

Flight and Land Movement

Because their legs are positioned very far back on their bodies to maximize diving efficiency, Ruddy Ducks are practically helpless on land and rarely walk. Taking off from water requires a long, pattering run across the surface.