Written by Peter Pearsall/Video by Dan Streiffert
The ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a small to medium-sized diving duck that can be found in abundance on ponds, lakes, and sloughs of Malheur Refuge from spring to fall.
Ruddy ducks are primarily found in freshwater habitats throughout North and South America. Their breeding range extends from the northern United States through Canada and Alaska, while they winter in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America.
These ducks are strong divers, using their well-adapted legs and feet to propel themselves underwater in search of aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and vegetation.
Ruddy ducks are known for their distinctive courtship displays during the breeding season. Males stick their tails straight up while striking their bills against their inflated necks, creating bubbles in the water as air is forced from their feathers. They punctuate the end of the display with a belch-like call. They also dash across the water with tails held down, making popping sounds with their feet.
Once a pair forms, they typically build nests in dense vegetation near the water’s edge. Ruddy duck eggs are proportionally the largest among all waterfowl. Ducklings are well-developed upon hatching, capable of foraging on their own almost immediately.
