male	male female European distribution immature male

Identification

The male has a bright chestnut-red body, black head and neck, startling white cheeks and a ridiculous plasticine-blue bill. The female is a duller brown with a grey bill and a dark line through her pale cheeks. Birds of both sexes often have spiky tails sticking up above the water.

Habitat

Resident on reservoirs, ponds and ornamental lakes.

Behaviour

Part of the male's display involves trapping air in the feathers on its chest then pressing on this area with its bill to release the air like 'bubbles in the bath'.

Migration

Although largely sedentary, British birds clearly do move to different areas in the winter and can be found in areas where breeding does not occur. A small population is now established in Iceland; these birds migrate, probably to Britain.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Ruddy Duck is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

undisc. site, Northants 17/12/2009	Farmoor, Oxon 31/10/2009	Hogganfield Loch, Clyde 07/10/2009	Hogganfield Loch, Clyde 07/10/2009	Hogganfield Loch, Clyde 20/09/2009
Hogganfield Loch, Clyde 20/09/2009	Paglesham Lagoon, Essex 24/06/2009	Kirkby on Bain GPs, Lincs 16/06/2009	Woolston Eyes (PO), Cheshire 12/06/2009	Martin Mere, Lancs 06/06/2009

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