In winter, male and female ruddy ducks look similar. Females can be identified by the dark smudge-like line across their cheeks. (Marlin Harms/Flickr)
The ruddy duck is a small, chubby diving duck that visits the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers, marshes and freshwater lakes from autumn through spring.
Appearance:
Males are dull brown in autumn and turn grayish-brown like females in winter
Large head with a wide gray bill
Males have white cheeks and a black “cap” on the head
Females have a dark smudge-like line across the cheek
Short, thick neck
Long, stiff tail that is often held straight up in the air
Legs set far back on the body
In summer (when ruddy ducks are not found in the Chesapeake Bay region), males have a chestnut body and a blue bill
Grows to 16 inches with a wingspan of 23 inches
Habitat:
Found in shallow waters on the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers, including marshes
Also spends time on freshwater ponds and lakes
Frequently found in areas with lots of bay grasses
Large flocks can be seen floating just off the Bay’s shoreline in winter
Range:
Visits the Bay region from autumn through spring
Spends the summer in the Prairie Pothole region of North and South Dakota and southern Canada
Feeding:
Feeds on bay grasses such as pondweeds and wild celery
Will also eat insects, mollusks and crustaceans in vegetated areas
Dives to find its prey
Predators:
Adults may be preyed upon by minks, hawks, owls and red foxes
Humans hunt ruddy ducks
Flight:
Takes off by running and pattering across the water’s surface
Beats its wings very rapidly while flying
Can be identified in flight by its dark wings, white cheeks (on males) and stiff tail
Voice:
Usually silent in winter
Breeding males have several calls used to attract a mate
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Does not breed in the Chesapeake Bay region
Breeds in spring and summer in the Prairie Pothole region of the Midwest and southern Canada
To attract a mate, males go through an extravagant courtship ritual that includes swimming around a female, slapping his chest with his bill, making several calls, and running across the water’s surface
Can live as long as 13 years, but rarely lives longer than 2-3 years
Other Facts:
One of the smallest ducks found in the Chesapeake Bay region
When alarmed, ruddy ducks dive underwater rather than flying away
Ruddy ducks are excellent swimmers. They use their long, stiff tail as a rudder to move underwater. However, they are extremely clumsy on land.
Even though they are small, ruddy ducks lay some of the largest eggs of any duck in the world
