Ruddy Duck

Status Uncommon transient, rare and local in summer, very rare in winter. Breeds. The status of this species has changed during the past century. According to Jones (1885) it was "formerly rare, but in late years somewhat common," and Downs (1888) states that "a good many are shot in fall migration." Although it remained largely a rare fall transient in subsequent years, in the 1970s it was increasingly reported earlier in late summer and fall at the Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary, and nesting began there in 1978. Birds on Sable Island on 25 June 1971 and in Cape Breton County on 4 August 1979 and 14 August 1982 were unusual. Away from the Amherst region, it usually first appears in October (average 29 October, earliest 5 October) and can be more common in November. Winter stragglers were on Cape Sable Island on 5 January 1909 (Allen 1916), in Yarmouth Harbour on 12 January 1969, and in Dartmouth from mid November 1979 to mid-February 1980. There are few spring reports, the earliest on 4 April 1975 on Sable Island, and others scattered in April and May.

Description Length: 36-42 cm. Adult male in summer: Upperparts, including neck, rich rusty brown; top of head black; cheeks and chin white; underparts silvery white; bill sky-blue. Male in winter: Mostly brownish gray with white cheeks; darker gray on crown. Female: Resembles male in winter plumage but has dark brownish gray stripe across cheek.

Breeding Nest: Usually in dense cattails on a floating platform; some down added. Eggs: 5-15; dull white, stained. The first report of breeding in Nova Scotia came when Stuart Tingley and Stephen Young photographed a duck with four downy young on 18 July 1979 at Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary. Broods have occurred there annually since but not elsewhere (P. Barkhouse, Canadian Wildlife Service).

Concerning the eggs laid by this bird, Kortright (1942) states: "The female, though one of the smallest of the ducks, weighing about one pound, lays enormous eggs, the average size of which is 2.45 by 1.79 inches. The Mallard and Canvasback, ducks three times the size of the little Ruddy Duck, lay substantially smaller eggs. A clutch of 14 eggs of the Ruddy Duck weighs approximately three pounds, or about three times as much as the little mother herself."

Range An exclusively North American species, breeding from Alaska, the southeastern Mackenzie Valley and western Ontario, south to southern California, Texas and Louisiana, with scattered or sporadic breeding in the east.

Remarks When seen swimming, this comical-looking, plump little duck can be identified by its characteristically upturned tail. When danger threatens it usually resorts to diving, but when hard pressed it takes off with apparent difficulty, pattering along over the surface for some distance and using legs as well as wings in its struggle to become airborne. In full flight its wing-beats are rapid. It occurs more frequently on fresh water and along the coast will usually be found in sheltered inlets with shoal water.