BirdNote®: Ruddy Duck
Air Date: May 31, 2019
In marshy lakes and ponds across North America, the spring breeding season may bring the colorful Ruddy Duck. With a black head, white face, and blue bill, the ducks stand out in a crowd but they may be best known for their creative courtships. BirdNote®’s Michael Stein has more.
Transcript
BASCOMB: In marshy lakes and ponds across North America, the spring breeding season may bring the colorful Ruddy Duck. With a black head, white face and blue bill the ducks stand out in a crowd but they may be best known for their creative courtships. BirdNote’s Michael Stein has more.
BirdNote® Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck bubbling display
STEIN: This strange sound is a male Ruddy Duck, performing his bubbling display.
Ruddy Duck bubbling display
When the sexes meet on the breeding grounds, usually a warm, weedy lake in the western interior, the males of these pudgy little ducks get right to strutting their stuff.
Ruddy Duck bubbling display
When a female appears, the male raises his long tail and his head, with feathers on it that look like horns. He inflates his neck, and faster and faster, strikes his chest with his bill. These blows force air through the feathers, causing the water to bubble. The male’s display ends with his head and tail jerking forward, and a low belching sound.
Ruddy Duck bubbling display
Whenever you hear this, watch for a bright rufous-red duck with black-and-white head and sky-blue bill. After the bubbling display, the male will usually run across the water with rapidly beating wings, his feet putt-putting like a little motorboat.
Ruddy duck display sounds
Stay by the water, and you’ll hear this motorboat alternating with the bubbling display again and again.
Ruddy Duck bubbling display, then motor boating
BASCOMB: For pictures, paddle on over to our website, loe dot org.
