Ruddy Duck
Latin name Oxyura jamaicensis
Family Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)
Overview
Ruddy ducks are small, stout freshwater diving ducks with broad, short wings and narrow, stiff tails. The male ruddy duck has a bright chestnut body, black crown, white cheeks and blue bill. They swim buoyantly, often with the tail cocked up, and can also gradually submerge without diving. They hardly ever leave the water, being very ungainly on land. They were brought here from North America to enhance captive wildfowl collections. Subsequent escape and successful establishment outside of the UK has resulted in a European conservation problem due to them hybridising the white-headed duck.