Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nunavut Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Prince Edward Island

See what's near you right now

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 608 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Oxyura
Species jamaicensis

Where it lives

Southern Canada, USA and West Indies

Quick facts

Weight: 608 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Ruddy Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Ruddy Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA s Canada, USA and West Indies.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 608 g, with a wing length of about 14 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6.7 million km².

Songs & calls

Ruddy Duck — Call, splash

Recorded by Paul Marvin Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Ruddy Duck?

The Ruddy Duck is a large bird that weighs around 608 g.

Where does the Ruddy Duck live?

The Ruddy Duck is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA s Canada, USA and West Indies, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Ruddy Duck belong to?

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Ruddy Duck eat?

The Ruddy Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Ruddy Duck migrate?

The Ruddy Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Ruddy Duck endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Ruddy Duck make?

1 real field recording of the Ruddy Duck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Ruddy Duck's range?

The Ruddy Duck has a mapped global range of about 6.7 million km².