The Ruddy Duck

What Resident Male Duck in Wetlands Park Really “Struts His Stuff” During Mating Season?

Southeastern Nevada, with its arid landscape and rugged mountain ranges, might seem an unlikely haven for waterfowl. Among the most stunning year-round resident at Clark County Wetlands Park is the ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis). This compact, energetic waterbird is best known for the distinctive blue bill, striking plumage, and “moves” in males during breeding season.

Ruddy ducks are a small, stocky diving duck with a length of about 14 to 16 inches. During breeding season, males are unmistakable: they sport bright chestnut-colored bodies, a sky-blue bill that looks freshly painted, and a stiff, upright tail that often sticks straight up like a periscope. Females and non-breeding males are more subdued, with brownish bodies and a dark stripe across a pale face.

Ruddies are well adapted to aquatic environments and are known for their buoyant, energetic behavior. They prefer shallow, marshy waters with abundant emergent vegetation, such as cattails and bulrushes. These are ideal for foraging and nesting. The birds are expert divers and can remain submerged for significant periods as they forage for aquatic invertebrates, especially during breeding season: midge larvae, caddisflies, mayflies, insect larvae and pupae, small crustaceans and tiny snails or freshwater clams. They also eat seeds and stems of aquatic plants and algae.

The ducks are considered promiscuous or polygynous, meaning that males may mate with multiple females during a single breeding season. And, after mating, males do not assist with incubation or rearing of the young. They are also highly territorial during the breeding season, with males performing elaborate courtship displays involving head-bobbing and producing bubbles in the water with their chests. These characteristics and behavior, coupled with their bright coloration and unusual shape, make the birds easy to identify from a distance. Females are solely responsible for building the nest, incubating the eggs, and raising the ducklings. This reproductive strategy differs from that of monogamous waterfowl (like many dabbling ducks), where both parents may share some responsibilities.

In the Park, ruddy ducks are present throughout the year, although their numbers fluctuate seasonally. They breed in the region during late spring and summer, nesting in dense vegetation near or over water. The female constructs a nest from grasses and reeds, lining it with down for insulation. She lays an average of five to 10 eggs and incubates them alone for about three to four weeks.

During the winter months, ruddy ducks are more widely dispersed, and southeastern Nevada becomes part of a broader wintering range that includes much of the southwestern United States. Large numbers of migrating ducks from northern breeding grounds augment local populations during this time, and mixed flocks can be seen in many of the area’s reservoirs and marshes.

While the ruddy duck is not currently considered threatened or endangered, it faces several conservation issues, both locally and globally. Wetland degradation is the most significant threat in southeastern Nevada. Urban expansion, water diversion, and agricultural development can lead to the loss or fragmentation of vital wetland habitats. Climate change further compounds these challenges as rising temperatures and prolonged droughts strain already-limited water resources. Conservation efforts in southeastern Nevada have had mixed success. Protected areas like the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and efforts by the Southern Nevada Water Authority to restore native springs and washes have helped preserve important wetland ecosystems. However, ongoing development in and around Las Vegas and Mesquite continues to place pressure on these delicate habitats, including in the Park.

In contrast to our environmental concerns in southern Nevada, with the ruddy duck’s introduction into Europe, it has become an invasive species. In the United Kingdom and parts of Western Europe, introduced North American ruddy ducks have hybridized with the closely related and endangered white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala), prompting controversial culling programs to protect native species. While this issue does not affect the Nevada populations directly, it underscores the importance of responsible wildlife management and the unintended consequences of species introduction.

The continued presence of ruddy ducks in southeastern Nevada highlights the resilience of both the species and the ecosystems that support it. These birds have adapted remarkably well to a region where water is scarce, and competition is high. Their success is closely tied to the health of wetland habitats, making them an important species indicator for conservationists and wildlife managers.

Protecting the ruddy duck in Nevada will require ongoing efforts to preserve and restore wetland habitats (like the Park), ensure sustainable water management, and maintain public awareness of the ecological value these areas provide.

– By Constance Carlson, photo credit: Clark County Wetlands Park archives

Please enjoy these YouTube videos!

Ruddy Duck Courtship Display          00:24               Featherlight Photography

Adorable Ruddy Ducks     (short)     ES Wildlife Care

Ruddy Ducks Call     (short)     Ruger51995