Male in breeding plumage
Credit: J. N. Stuart

North American field guide

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis

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Identification

Field notes

38-41 cm (15-16") Common. Marshes, ponds, lakes. Small chubby diving duck with a broad bill. Stiff tail often held straight up. Often swims low in water.

Male: black head; bold white cheek - from bill to ear; reddish-brown body; light blue bill. Winter: dark cap; large entirely white cheek; grayish body; dull blue or gray bill. Similar female has line through cheek.

Female: head appears two-toned - dark crown and light cheek with a line through it; brown body; dark bill. Similar winter male has an entirely white cheek with no line through it.

In flight: must run on water surface to achieve flight; small, fast flying; plain wings.

Song: mostly silent, clucking.

Watch and learn

Videos

3 videos

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Approximate reconstruction of a historical map. Source date unknown.

Geography: Natural Earth
Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Ruddy Duck (Female)

1 rule
Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 5
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?
No · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
result:783-ruddy-duck-female:1:1 Source: 783 Ruddy duck (Female), row 1

Ruddy Duck (Male)

1 rule
Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 5
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?
No · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Spring · Summer · Fall
result:781-ruddy-duck-male:1:1 Source: 781 Ruddy Duck (Male), row 1

Ruddy Duck (Male in Non-breeding Plumage)

1 rule
Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 5
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?
No · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Spring · Fall · Winter