Ruddy Duck

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a pair of Ruddy Ducks at Wawanosh Wetlands.

Ruddy Ducks are compact, thick-necked waterfowl with seemingly oversized tails that they habitually hold upright. Breeding males are almost cartoonishly bold, with a sky-blue bill, shining white cheek patch, and gleaming chestnut body.

Pleistocene fossils of Ruddy Ducks, at least 11,000 years old, have been unearthed in Oregon, California, Virginia, Florida, and Illinois. Cornell All About Birds

This widespread duck breeds mostly in the prairie pothole region of North America and winters in wetlands throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

The Ruddy Duck is the only "stiff-tailed" duck regularly found in North America. The name refers to the long spiky tail that they often hold nearly straight up.