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Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis [JF Gmelin, 1789]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Anseriformes
Family:
Anatidae
BTO Codes:
RY , RUDDU
EURING No:
2250
Number in Britain:
664 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
Unlisted
European:
Not evaluated
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(C1) Introduced Breeder
Subspecies:
jamaicensis recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
39 cm
Wingspan:
58 cm
Weight:
M: 670 g F: 480 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: oxus =sharp + oura =tail
and after Jamaica
World Distribution:
BREEDS: locally in North America, West Indies, WINTERS: south to Honduras, INTRODUCED: Britain
Habitat:
Marshes, lakes, on migration also rivers, estuaries
Diet:
Omnivorous, mostly by diving and swimming along bottom
TitBit:
The Ruddy Duck colonised by Britain from a few escapees of the WWTs collection at Slimbridge, it found a ready-made home in the West Midlands reservoirs, and has since spread further afield where it is now endangering the Spanish White-headed Duck by matin
g with the females, at the expense of male White-headed Ducks
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
641 to 687 pairs
in 1994
Note: Probably now an overestimate
Winter:
4110 individuals
in 1994-99
Note: Probably now an overestimate
First Record:
c. 1960
First Breeding Record:
Avon 1960
Latest Survey:
Hughes, B. (1998) British Birds 91:336-353
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
Unavailable
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(IX)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
62 x 46 mm
Egg Weight:
73.0 g (of which 10 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
8
Clutch Size:
6 - 10 eggs
Incubation:
25 - 26 days
by the:
Female
Fledging:
50 - 55 days
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
19
Adult Survival:
No data
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
10yr8m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
F or Go*
Wing Length
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Other Names
Ruddy Duck
Gaelic:
Welsh:
Hwyaden Goch
Danish:
Amerikansk skarveand
Dutch:
Rosse stekelstaart
Finnish:
Kuparivartti
French:
Erismature rousse
German:
Schwarzkopf-Ruderente
Hungarian:
Feketefeju halcsontfarkú réce
Icelandic:
Hrókönd
Irish:
Lacha Rua
Italian:
Gobbo rugginoso americano
Norwegian:
Stivhaleand
Polish:
Sterniczka jamajska
Portuguese:
Pato-rabo-alçado-americano
Spanish:
Malvasía rojiza
Swedish:
Amerikansk kopparand
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Hughes, B. 1996 Feasibility of control measures for North American ruddy ducks in the UK DETR, London
[598.482 HUG]
Hughes, B. 1998 BWP Update 2:159-171
Kear, J 2005 Ducks, geese and swans Oxford University Press
[598.48 KEA]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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