Audubon’s scientists have used 140 million bird observations and sophisticated climate models to project how climate change will affect this bird’s range in the future. They forage by diving under water and straining mud through their bills to find food. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. If you find the information on BirdWeb useful, please consider supporting Seattle Audubon. Most feed while on the water, diving or merely tilting their bodies so that their heads and necks are submerged to search for fish, plants and invertebrates. They also eat aquatic insects and their larvae, shellfish and crustaceans. Many nests are concealed by vegetation pulled over the nest, which gives them a basket-shaped appearance. They are relatively aggressive, especially while breeding, and they typically chase their neighbors around when they get too close to their nests. Usually lethargic, and seems reluctant to fly. One brood per year in north, sometimes 2 in south. These regulations also protect their primary breeding habitats, and any important migration stops. Ruddy Ducks are unique little birds with a number of traits and behaviors that make them unique. Enclosures should also have plenty of water features to forage in. Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Feeds on the seeds and roots of plants including pondweeds, sedges, smartweeds, coontail, and grasses. Midge larvae are a primary source of animal matter in their diet. Rarely forages by dabbling at the surface. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too. Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from The fall migration lasts from late August to November. Age at first flight about 6 weeks. Can this American art form survive? Insects and their larvae may be main foods eaten in summer. Its Heyday Long Past, Wildlife Wood Carving Looks to Broaden Its Appeal, Audubon’s Delaware River Watershed Program Director Tapped to Shape Regional Watershed Plans and Climate Resiliency, An Avian Cholera Outbreak at the Salton Sea Has Killed Thousands of Birds. The ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a duck from North America and one of the stiff-tailed ducks. The female lays 5 to 10 eggs (usually 8), and commonly lays eggs in the nests of other Ruddy Ducks or another species. Mollusks, crustaceans, and some small fish are also eaten. Migration extends over considerable period in both spring and fall. Current population apparently much lower than historical levels, owing to unrestricted shooting early in 20th century and to loss of nesting habitat. Learn more about these drawings. They reproduce in ponds, marshes, and lakes with dense vegetation and shrubbery. Overwhelmed and Understaffed, Our National Wildlife Refuges Need Help. Spread the word. Diet. Christmas Bird Count data show a slight decline in Washington. The Ruddy Duck is a small duck species that live in North and South America. Mollusks, crustaceans, and some small fish are … Males are not quite as brightly-colored and dramatic as some other duck species, such as the King Eider, or the Harlequin ducks, but they do have their own flashy traits. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Competitions are getting scarce. Ruddy ducks are excellent swimmers but they are very clumsy on land. Photo: Howard Arndt/Audubon Photography Awards, Great Egret. They court females by beating their bill against their neck hard enough to create a swirl of bubbles in the water. During the breeding season they feed mainly on invertebrates, primarily chironomid larvae and pupae. In western Washington, Ruddy Ducks breed uncommonly in the Puget Trough in King and Pierce Counties. Mostly seeds, roots, insects. Incubation is by female, 23-26 days. Washington representatives of the order all belong to one family: The waterfowl family is represented in Washington by two distinct groups—the geese and swans, and the ducks. The rest of its body is reddish-brown colored, and its tail is black. No off truck alcohol sales will be available. They are abundant throughout the winter on open water. Photo: Dick Dickinson/Audubon Photography Awards, Breeding adult male. Like most waterfowl, they eat more insects while they are breeding and raising ducklings because their need for protein is greater. Or take action immediately with one of our current campaigns below: The Audubon Bird Guide is a free and complete field guide to more than 800 species of North American birds, right in your pocket. Favored plant foods include the seeds, tubers, and leafy parts of pondweeds, bulrush, widgeon grass, and muskgrass. Illustration © David Allen Sibley. Can This Critically Endangered Bird Survive Australia's New Climate Reality? Pairs form after arrival on breeding waters. Though humans hunt Ruddy Ducks, the U.S. Fresh marshes, ponds, lakes; in winter, salt bays. Like most waterfowl, they migrate seasonally to reproduce, and migrate over the winter to warmer climates. Collectors are dying out. Young are tended by female but feed themselves.