Page 121 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Oxyura jamaicensis
Ruddy Duck dark cap on dull grey-brown blackish
bill
pale head
body
all-dark cheek stripe
wings dull dark grey-
brown body
dark
MALE grey
(SUMMER) bill
large, round MALE (WINTER)
head
FEMALE
white
IN FLIGHT face
black cap pure white
and nape cheeks
rounded
rufous back
body
stiff tail, laid blue bill
flat or angled
upwards
MALE
(SUMMER)

FLIGHT: fast, low, weak, with whirring wingbeats;
direct, with little agility.
n accidental introduction to Europe, the Ruddy
ADuck escaped from collections in the 1950s and
has since become established in several countries. It is
a freshwater bird, family parties pottering about reedy
shores. It moves to larger lakes and reservoirs in winter, DISPLAYING MALE
flocks numbering several hundreds in the most The male Ruddy Duck vibrates his
favoured places which have become traditional bill against the breast, pushing
moulting and wintering areas. out air in a flurry of bubbles from
VOICE Mostly silent; odd grunts, also slaps bill against the feathers.
chest in display.
NESTING Large, floating pile of vegetation in tall reeds, often “roofed” over by
meshed stems; 6–10 eggs; 1 brood;April–June.
FEEDING Dives from surface, reappearing like a cork; takes insect larvae and seeds.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds on reedy pools and flooded
SMEW 2similar to 3winter; flatter RED-CRESTED POCHARD 2 COMMON SCOTER 2 pits in Great Britain and less
see p.116 crown similar to 3; similar to 3;
smaller see p.412 see p.112 commonly, adjacent areas of
white face continent. In larger reservoirs and
larger darker face
shorter paler brown more open waters in autumn,
tail
longer bill mostly in a few flocks at regular
sites, ones and twos elsewhere.
Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 35–43cm (14–17in) Wingspan 53–62cm (21–24in) Weight 350–800g (13–29oz)
Social Winter flocks Lifespan Up to 8 years Status Secure†
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