Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
We once called the Ruddy Duck by such names as “Blue-Bill”, or “Blue-Billed Duck”, or even “Stiff-Tail”. They breed across most of western North America and Mexico. These diving ducks seek wetlands and reservoirs during the breeding season.
In 1948, so-called conservationist Sir Peter Scott imported some of these ducks to the United Kingdom, and collectors added them to their inventory. As one would expect, there were escapes and/or releases into the wild, and soon their population exploded across Europe. There, the more sexually aggressive Ruddy Ducks interbred with the endangered White-Headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala). Concerned about the welfare and preservation of the White-Headed Duck, conservationists in Spain and other countries began a campaign to extirpate the Ruddy Duck in Europe, dropping their numbers from a high estimate of nearly 6000 birds in the year 2000, to about 20~100 in 2014.
During most of the year near my Southern California home, I’m able to find these ducks in nearby ponds. When the drakes are in full breeding mode, with turquoise bills, bright white cheeks and coppery bronzed bodies, it is entertaining to watch them perform their comical mating song-and-dance. It is a softly rendered staccato quacking, accompanied by a rapid up-and-down dipping of the bill.
There are at least six members from around the globe from the genus Oxyura:
- O. australis, from Australia
- O. jamaicensis, from North America
- O. ferruginea, from South America
- O. leucocephala from Spain, North Africa, and Asia
- O. maccoa from Africa
- O. vittata from Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay
Modern science considers the Ruddy Duck as monotypic (i.e. no subspecies). Formerly considered a subspecies of the Ruddy Duck, as of 1998, the Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea) of South America is now a separate species.
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Santee Lakes in Santee, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:12:19 13:27 |
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Location:
Santee Lakes |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X4476-RuddyDuck |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Breeding male at the Safari Park (formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County 2013-05-05. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 11:45 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X6378-RuddyDuck |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Henderson, Nevada outside of Las Vegas at the "Bird Viewing Preserve". |
Date Taken: 2015:05:05 10:28 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X8851-RuddyDuck |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Female or juvenile in the pond at the center of the racetrack. Del Mar, California. San Diego County 2008-09-10. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:10 9:48 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd0324RuddyDuck |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Female or juvenile at the San Dieguito River Mouth. Del Mar, California. San Diego County 2006-02-02. |
Date Taken: 2006:02:02 11:14 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD1382RuddyDuck |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Nonbreeding male at Reid Park in Tucson, Arizona 2008-11-27. |
Date Taken: 2008:11:27 13:37 |
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Location:
Tucson |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD2630RuddyDuck |
| © 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Female or juvenile at Reid Park in Tucson, Arizona 2008-11-27. |
Date Taken: 2008:11:27 13:37 |
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Location:
Tucson |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD2631RuddyDuck |
| © 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Female or juvenile with a nonbreeding male at Reid Park in Tucson, Arizona 2008-11-27. |
Date Taken: 2008:11:27 13:40 |
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Location:
Tucson |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/80 |
File Name: JCD2658RuddyDuck |
| © 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Breeding male at the Beeler Creek Ponds. Poway, California. San Diego County 2016-05-28. |
Date Taken: 2008:02:01 16:08 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD3436RuddyDuck |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Breeding male at the Beeler Creek Ponds. Poway, California. San Diego County 2016-05-28. |
Date Taken: 2008:02:01 16:09 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 |
File Name: JCD3445RuddyDuck |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Breeding male on Kumeyaay Lake. Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 13:53 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: jcd6871.RuddyDuck |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Female or juvenile near Lindsey Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California 2009-11-26. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:26 14:54 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD8071.RuddyDuck |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Nonbreeding male near Lindsey Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California 2009-11-26. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:26 14:55 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD8077.RuddyDuck |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Wild at The Zoo. Albuquerque, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2005:02:18 15:57 |
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Location:
Barelas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_5004RuddyDuck |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Santee Lakes in Santee, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:12:19 13:34 |
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Location:
Santee Lakes |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X4520-RuddyDuck |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Dairy Mart Ponds at The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:03 9:41 |
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Location:
Dairy Mart Ponds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X5693-RuddyDuck |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Crystal Lake near Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:04 18:50 |
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Location:
Crystal Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 |
File Name: JCD3640RuddyDuck |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. Ruddy Ducks came near to let me know they had their eye on me. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:32 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8502582-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. Ruddy Ducks came near to let me know they had their eye on me. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:32 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8502576-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. Ruddy Ducks came near to let me know they had their eye on me. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:31 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8502573-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. Ruddy Ducks came near to let me know they had their eye on me. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:28 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8502557-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. Ruddy Ducks came near to let me know they had their eye on me. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:28 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8502553-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: While my attention was on Grebes and Yellowlegs, Ruddy Ducks showed up to check me out. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:52 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8509341-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
|
Description: While my attention was on Grebes and Yellowlegs, Ruddy Ducks showed up to check me out. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:46 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8509272-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
|
Description: While my attention was on Grebes and Yellowlegs, Ruddy Ducks showed up to check me out. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:44 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8509250-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
|
Description: While my attention was on Grebes and Yellowlegs, Ruddy Ducks showed up to check me out. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:44 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_8509244-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 9:00 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_D5X7887-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 7:59 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: RuddyDuck_D5X7464-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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