Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Other references:
B38

Aviculture references:
J23.13.w8
B29, B31, B30, B40, B94, B96, B97, B108, B128.w2, B129
D1, D8

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
• The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Earthkind
• The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

• Waterfowl Management Guidelines
• Proceedings of the Waterfowl Information Network Conference 1999
• Wetlands, Industry and Wildlife
• London Waterfowl Project FAQ's
• The Electronic Library: further reading for "Wildlife: Oil Spill Response"

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Waterfowl
• Stiff-tails

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Diving Ducks (D1)

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Stiff-tails are generally hardy. They are extremely aquatic and do best on large ponds of variable depth, with clean, deep water and plenty of natural food available in the form of marginal aquatic plants, while a muddy pond bottom will provide food items such as tubifex worms. Duckweed and small-sized seeds such as millet and canary seed mixtures are preferred to conventional waterfowl feeds, although wheat and pellets will be taken if natural food is scarce, for example in hard winter weather. Ample marginal vegetation (e.g. rushes, sedge, juncus reed) should be available for general cover and for nesting, with nesting rafts also provided.
• Most species are sociable and do best in groups rather than as a single pair; males will fight, but usually for only a short period, some degree of pursuit and rape of ducks is also likely. They can be very aggressive in nest site defence, therefore in mixed collections they should be kept on a water area sufficiently large for other ducks to escape.
• Stiff-tail ducklings should preferably be reared with access to water from e.g. two days old, with sufficient depth for diving provided even at an early age, although enforced drying off periods between short swims may be advisable initially. Duckweed is a useful starter food for these species, although attached daphnia and water snails may carry parasites.

(J23.13.w8, B29, B30, B40, B94).

Species-specific information:

• Ruddy ducks are hardy, but access to ice-free water should be ensured in winter. They are not difficult to keep, but do need deep (preferably 50% of water area over 1m deep) clean water. Pools with natural bankside vegetation are preferred, with feeding and nesting areas available close to water. They may be kept in mixed collections and in groups, if a sufficient area is available. They may be fed grain on the water (small grains preferred) also pellets, green food, grass, bread, additional animal matter and aquatic plants.
• These ducks are fairly easy to breed. They nest in rushy cover in bankside vegetation, also in ground level nest boxes and on rafts/ floating vegetation. They may begin laying in May (B31); usually lay April to May (B29), and may lay a second clutch. They are best parent incubated and reared on mature ponds, although in large enclosures it may be very difficult to catch the ducklings to pinion them (this may be possible before they leave the nest at a day old). If the ducklings are hand reared, water must be provided for swimming and diving from an early age; normal rearing food may be fed.

(B29, B31, B40, B94, B96, B97, B108, B128.w2, B129, D1)

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme recommended average closed ring size: J 9.0mm (D8).

• Accommodation of Casualty Waterfowl
• Rearing of Birds - Artificial Rearing - Waterfowl considerations
• Catching and Handling of Waterfowl
• Feeding of Casualty Waterfowl
• Release of Casualty Waterfowl
• See also: Oil Spill: Species Identification and Special Considerations

Measurement & Weight

Head

Legs

Plumage

Lower neck, breast and underparts ruddy-brown, shading to whitish on abdomen and undertail coverts.

Upperparts ruddy-brown, wing blackish-brown, tail blackish.

Eclipse male: Similar to female but head clearly divided as before, dark brown rather than black dorsal head.

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

From three weeks old ducklings are foraging independently.

Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis North American ruddy duck. North America, from British Columbia to Manitoba in Canada, south to California and Texas, scattered in north-eastern USA, and West Indies.

  • Mainly migratory, with northern populations moving south for the winter.

• Oxyura jamaicensis andina Colombian ruddy duck. Andes of central and northern Colombia. Sedentary.

--

Feral population established in England (B38). Spreading from Britain across Europe and reaching Morocco, Israel, Turkey and Ukraine (B8).

London: In the London Area, "widespread winter visitor of feral origin, localised breeder." At least 12 pairs bred in 2000. The locations with the most birds were Hilfield Park Reservoir (more than 300 during the winter, Broadwater Lake (more than 100) and Staines Resrvoir (more than 100); in Inner London occasional birds were seen in St. James's Park. (J322.65.w1)

Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Not threatened, locally common. Oxyura jamaicensis andina is scarce and declining and is considered endangered (B1, B8).

Feral British population is expanding and may be a threat to the Spanish population of Oxyura leucocephala - White-headed duck, due to interbreeding.

• This species is listed on Schedule 9 - Part 1 (Animals and plants to which Section 14 applies (ie. may not be released into or grown in the wild) ) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)

Captive Populations

Trade