"Ruddy Ducks"

by the late
Jeffrey Sterling Sonstegard

Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis. Something of an oddball among North American waterfowl, the Ruddy Duck belongs to a group called \'93stiff-tailed\'94 ducks. In breeding plumage, the chunky drake, complete with cocked tail, appears to be something of a caricature. Ruddy ducks spend most of their time on the water and tend not to associate with other waterfowl. Expert divers, they gather food on the bottoms of ponds and lakes. Identification: 14-16\'94. A small, chunky duck. Drakes in breading plumage are rust-colored with a broad, pale blue bill and white cheek. Females are overall light brown, with the distinctive bill and body shape. They also show a single cheek stripe. Voice: Usually silent except in courtship, when males utter continuous clucking and chuck notes. Habitat: Freshwater marshes, lakes, and ponds with dense vegetation; in winter, on large bodies of water and occasionally on salt marshes. Range: Breeds from British Columbia to Manitoba, south of Texas, and in the Northeast. Winters around the coastal perimeter of the U.S. and as far inland as Missouri.

1995 Minnesota Waterfall Duck Stamp Competition.