HUNTING HORIZONS - Worldwide Hunting Seasons Database

The Ruddy Duck [Oxyura jamaicensis] is a small stiff-tailed, migratory duck which is native to North and South America. They summer in western and central Canada, the western United States, south to central Texas and in to Mexico; wintering range extends throughout most of southern North America to as far south as western Guatemala and El Salvador.
LENGTH: 35 to 43 cm WEIGHT: 310 to 795 g WINGSPAN: 135 to 154 mm
Ruddy ducks vary between sexes as well as seasonally; they have large, spatulate, pale blue bills.
MALE: Breeding males have a white cheek patch, chestnut red body plumage, blue bill and a white face with a black cap. The crown, nape, and tail, which are held erect or horizontal to the water, are dark brown.
During the winter males resemble females with their pure white face remaining their distinguishing characteristic.
FEMALE: Females have grey-brown barred bodies that lack any chestnut colouring, greyish face with a darker bill, cap and an off-white cheek split by a horizontal brown stripe.
JUVENILE: Juveniles have barred bodies that lack any chestnut colouring.
HABITAT: Includes marshes, lakes and coastal areas; when not breeding sheltered brackish and marine coastal areas, lakes and rivers. Nest on freshwater marshes, sloughs, lakes, ponds and where open water is bordered by dense aquatic vegetation.
FEEDING: These birds dive and swim underwater, mainly eating seeds and roots of aquatic plants, aquatic insects and crustaceans.
CALL: Epitomised by a series of low clicks which speed up over each vocalisation.
FLIGHT: To become airborne they beat their wings rapidly and run along the surface of the water. In flight, ruddy ducks fly at relatively low heights above the water; direct flight on rapid wing beats.