Ruddy Duck Photo Gallery
Breeding male
Small, compact duck with a stout, scoop-shaped bill, and a long, stiff tail that is often held up. Breeding males have a blue bill and chestnut bodies.
© pierre martin / Macaulay LibraryArizona, April 28, 2018Breeding male
Courtship display starts with tapping sounds from male's bill beating against his chest and ends with a belch-like call.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 30, 2021Not all videos have soundNonbreeding male
Small, compact duck with a big head and scoop-shaped bill. Nonbreeding males have a dark cap and solid white cheek.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 07, 2016Nonbreeding male
Small and compact diving duck that sits relatively low in the water. Sometimes it cocks its tail up above the water and other times lays it flat on the water's surface.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 08, 2014Not all videos have soundBreeding male
Small, compact duck. Breeding males have a blue bill and a white cheek patch.
© Caleb Putnam / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, April 14, 2020Female/immature male
Small, compact ducks with a stout, scoop-shaped bill. Females have a whitish cheek with a black stripe across it.
© David Yeamans / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 08, 2017Nonbreeding male
Small, compact ducks with a stout, scoop-shaped bill, and a long, stiff tail often held up. Nonbreeding males have a dark cap and a white cheek.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 29, 2015Breeding male
Males stick their tails straight up while striking their bills against their inflated necks, creating bubbles in the water during courtship displays.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNorth Dakota, June 13, 2012Flock
Compact shape, raised tail, and white cheek distinctive at a distance. Often congregates in groups on lakes during the winter.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 03, 2013Habitat
Breeds in wetlands and reservoirs with dense emergent vegetation.
© Irene Crosland / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, July 03, 2020Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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