Ruddy Duck Images, Facts and Information:
Oxyura jamaicensis
- Ruddy Ducks are compact, diving ducks with short necks and stiff tails that they hold upright quite often. In breeding plumage the males have blue bills, bright white cheek patches, black caps and chestnut colored bodies. The females are brown and have a brown streak across pale cheeks.
- Ruddy Ducks are migratory.
- During the breeding season Ruddy Ducks prefer prairie potholes, marshes, reservoirs and ponds in the western U.S., southwestern Canada, scattered locations in the eastern U.S. and the Caribbean. During the winter they can be found in the southern parts of their breeding range and further south into Mexico and Central America.
- Ruddy Ducks eat aquatic insects, zooplankton, crustaceans and other invertebrates.
- Ruddy Ducks lay 3 to 13 eggs which hatch in 20 to 26 days. The female incubates and they are monogamous.
- A group of ducks can be called a “raft”, “paddling”, “flush” or “brace” of ducks.
- Ruddy Ducks can live to be more than 13 years old.
I hope you enjoy viewing my Ruddy Duck photos.
Ruddy Duck drake and hen at Bear River MBR
Title: Ruddy Duck drake and hen at Bear River MBR
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 1/17/2018
Ruddy Duck female in evening light
Title: Ruddy Duck female in evening light
Location: Salt Lake County, Utah
Date: 12/12/2016
Ruddy Duck – Mallard size comparison
Title: Ruddy Duck – Mallard size comparison
Location: Salt Lake County, Utah
Date: 12/12/2016
Preening female Ruddy Duck
Title: Preening female Ruddy Duck
Location: Salt Lake County, Utah
Date: 12/12/2016
Ruddy Duck drake at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Title: Ruddy Duck drake at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/17/2015
Fluffed up Ruddy Duck female
Title: Fluffed up Ruddy Duck female
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 2/6/2015
Female Ruddy Duck with a feather on her bill
Title: Female Ruddy Duck with a feather on her bill
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 2/6/2015
Ruddy Duck female starting to settle back into the water
Title: Ruddy Duck female starting to settle back into the water
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 2/6/2015
Ruddy Duck hen with her body out of the water
Title: Ruddy Duck hen with her body out of the water
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 2/6/2015
Ruddy Duck female shaking her wings
Title: Ruddy Duck female shaking her wings
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 2/6/2015
Female Ruddy Duck starting to wing flap
Title: Female Ruddy Duck starting to wing flap
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 2/6/2015
Rousing female Ruddy Duck
Title: Rousing female Ruddy Duck
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 2/6/2015
Ruddy Duck female
Title: Ruddy Duck female
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 2/6/2015
Female Ruddy Duck shaking
Title: Female Ruddy Duck shaking
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 12/5/2013
Flock of Ruddy Ducks in flight
Title: Flock of Ruddy Ducks in flight
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 11/25/2010