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[[Image:Ruddy_Duck.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by IanF<br />Male photgraphed at: Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Billingham]] | [[Image:Ruddy_Duck.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by IanF<br />Male photgraphed at: Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Billingham]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | A small diving duck | + | A small diving duck. Compact body with large head and stiff tale give it a very distinctive shape. |
| + | ====Male==== | ||
| + | *Striking blue bill | ||
| + | *White cheeks | ||
| + | *Dark brown head | ||
| + | *Red/brown body | ||
| + | ====Female==== | ||
| + | *Dull brown | ||
| + | *Bold, pale cheek patches | ||
[[Image:ruddyduck_female.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by postcardcv<br />female]] | [[Image:ruddyduck_female.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by postcardcv<br />female]] | ||
| Line 10: | Line 18: | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Marshes, ponds and lakes | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
Revision as of 16:53, 30 December 2007
- Oxyura jamaicensis
Identification
A small diving duck. Compact body with large head and stiff tale give it a very distinctive shape.
Male
- Striking blue bill
- White cheeks
- Dark brown head
- Red/brown body
Female
- Dull brown
- Bold, pale cheek patches
Native of North America, introduced to the UK and Europe, where hybridisation with white-headed duck is causing some concern. Currently there is a controversial attempt to irradicate ruddy duck from the UK.
Distribution
Taxonomy
Habitat
Marshes, ponds and lakes
