Érismature rousse— Quebec wildlife

The ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a species of duck, one of six extant species of stiff-tailed duck (genus Oxyura). In the 1940s, the ruddy duck was introduced to the United Kingdom, where it established a population. Outside the Americas, the ruddy duck is considered a highly invasive species, prompting many countries to initiate culling projects to eradicate it from the native ecosystem. The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek oxus meaning "sharp", and oura meaning "tail". The specific name jamaicensis means "from Jamaica". The ruddy duck has also been nicknamed "butterball", a term used to describe an individual that is somewhat fat, due to its short and stout stature making activities like flying and walking upright awkward.

Description

The ruddy duck is a small, compact duck with a stout, scoop-shaped bill, and a long, stiff tail which it holds cocked upward. It has a slightly peaked head and a fairly short, thick neck. The male ruddy duck has a blackish cap that contrasts with its bright white cheeks. In summer, it has a rich chestnut body with a bright blue bill. In winter, it is a dull gray-brown above and paler below with a dull gray bill. The female and first-year male are brownish, somewhat like the winter male but with a blurry stripe across the pale cheek patch. In flight, the ruddy duck shows the solidly dark tops of the wings. On average, the female is smaller and weighs less than the male. It has a short and stout scoop-shaped bill designed for underwater foraging. With its short stature, it is known to be a great swimmer whilst finding taking flight a much more laboured task. In comparison to other ducks, ruddy ducks rarely fly but when they do, it is done with a very fast wingbeat and closely over the water. An interesting physical feature found within this taxon of duck is the trachea, inflatable air sacs, and esophagi which are used in displays. The tail of the ruddy duck is commonly seen held upwards.