Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
The male's bill turns a vibrant sky-blue during the breeding season, a color rarely seen in the avian world.
- Scientific name
- Oxyura jamaicensis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Oxyura
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Freshwater marshes, alkaline lakes, and ponds with dense emergent vegetation for nesting.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; primarily aquatic insects, midge larvae, crustaceans, and seeds of pondweeds.
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America, Europe (introduced)
- Size
- 35-43 cm long; weight 300-800 grams
- Lifespan
- 10-13 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, pollution, and accidental ingestion of lead fishing sinkers.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Best observed through binoculars from a distance of at least 20 meters. If the bird dives repeatedly or swims away rapidly, you are too close; back away to let it forage in peace.
The ruddy duck ( Oxyura jamaicensis ) is a duck from North America and one of the stiff-tailed ducks. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek oxus , "sharp", and oura , "tail", and jamaicensis is "from Jamaica". The Andean duck was considered a subspecies. In fact, some taxonomists, including the American Ornithological Society, still consider it conspecific. Subspecies: jamaicensis - North America including West Indies. andina - central Colombia. ferruginea - southern Colombia south to Chile.
Photo: Daniel Pineda Vera, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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