Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis

A small diving duck of the Americas with a bright blue bill, whose males drum their bills to make bubbles when courting.

🦆 Waterfowl

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About the Ruddy Duck

Ruddy ducks are native to North and South America. Both males and females have blue bills, though the female's is paler. Males have white faces, and females have a dark stripe across the face. They live on freshwater lakes and ponds and eat mostly plants and small water animals. To escape danger, they can slowly sink below the surface.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Oxyura jamaicensis^[1]
Diet: Omnivore. Mostly water plants and aquatic invertebrates.^[1]
Habitat: Temperate freshwater lakes, ponds and marshes.^[1]
Where it lives: North and South America; introduced in Europe.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018).^[2]

Fun facts

Ruddy ducks lay the biggest eggs of any duck for their size.^[1]
Courting males drum their bills on their necks to make bubbles.^[1]
They can sink below the water to escape predators.^[1]

Vocabulary

diving duck: A duck that dives underwater to find food.
aquatic: Living in or near water.
introduced: Brought by people to a place where it didn't live before.
courtship: Behavior animals use to attract a mate.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · BirdsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Ruddy Duck.” https://www.sfzoo.org/ruddy-duck/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Oxyura jamaicensis (Ruddy Duck).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22727750/132178041 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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