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Ruddy Duck
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| Oxyura jamaicensis | |
A member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," the Ruddy Duck has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.
Interesting Information
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The Ruddy Duck has spiky tail feathers that are used in courtship displays.
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Occasionally males lack white cheeks and can be confused with the Masked Duck.
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They are considered an invasive species in Great Britain. They have become a threat to the native White-headed ducks with whom they hybridize and compete with for nesting sites.
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A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.
Description
Adult Description
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Size: 35-43 cm (14-17 in)
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Wingspan: 56-62 cm (22-24 in)
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Weight: 300-850 g (10.59-30.01 ounces)
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Small duck.
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Large white cheek patches.
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Dark cap.
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Bill blue or bluish.
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Long tail often held up.
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Breeding male bright cinnamon red.
Sex Differences
Male with bright white cheeks; reddish in breeding plumage. Female browner with dark line through cheek patch.
Immature
Similar to adult female.
Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley
© 2003 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
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Habitat |
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Preferred breeding habitats include freshwater marshes, marshy lakes, and ponds. Found in marshes and shallow coastal bays during winter. |
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Behavior |
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Forages on the water surface and by diving. |
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Food |
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Feeds on pondweeds, wild celery, algae, seeds, aquatic insects, shellfish, and crustaceans. |
Taxonomy
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | Anatinae |
| Genus: | Oxyura |
| Species: | Oxyura jamaicensis |
| Subspecies: | Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis |
| Oxyura jamaicensis rubida |
Similar Species |
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Bird Sound |
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Usually silent except in courtship. Male makes series of muffled popping noises. |
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Eggs look like this |
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Photo taken from: ARCTOS Collaborative Collection Management Solution |
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Sources Used To Construct This Page |
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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. |
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| All photos and videos © Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use. | ||||
