# Ruddy Duck

Scientific name: Oxyura jamaicensis

Bird group: [duck](https://birdsofpuertorico.com/family/duck)

Canonical source: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/bird/44/Ruddy-Duck

## Identification

The ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a duck from North America and one of the stiff-tailed ducks. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek oxus, "sharp", and oura, "tail", and jamaicensis is "from Jamaica".


## Distribution and habitat

The Ruddy Duck occurs from northern North America down 
to Central America and northern 
South America (Oberle 2018), 
and it is a common resident 
on New Providence in The 
Bahamas and the Greater Antilles 
(Raffaele and others 1998). The 
resident West Indian subspecies 
(O.fij.fijamaicensis) has declined 
in The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, 
and the Virgin Islands to the 
point of being threatened 
(Raffaele and others 1998). In 
Puerto Rico, it can be seen in the 
Humacao Natural Reserve, Caño 
Tiburones Natural Reserve, and 
the Serrallés Lakes near Ponce 
(Oberle 2018). In Vieques, it is a 
rare breeding resident in spring, 
and it is extremely rare in winter and summer (Gemmill 2015). 
Habitat includes open freshwater 
bodies such as lakes, lagoons, 
and alkaline marshes, as well as 
saline wetlands and mangrove 
edges adjacent to water (Bond 
1961, Raffaele and others 1998). 
The atlas fieldwork yielded a 
total of 77 records within 35 
hexagons or 7 percent of the 479 
total hexagons (see map). Of the 
35 hexagons where this species 
was found, breeding met the 
atlas definition of confirmed in 
17 percent (6) of the hexagons, 
probable in 54 percent (19), and 
possible in 26 percent (9), while 
the species was observed in 3 
percent (1) of the hexagons but 
without evidence of breeding 
(see map). Ruddy Duck distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones in 
Puerto Rico. Note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.       35Ruddy Duck/Pato Chorizo

## Breeding

Previously published reports indicate that the Ruddy Duck 
breeds primarily from June to 
August (Raffaele and others 
1998), although breeding seasons 
in the southwest may not be 
synchronized with breeding 
seasons in the northeast part 
of Puerto Rico (H. Raffaele, 
personal communication 2019). 
The nest is built over water in 
swamp vegetation (Raffaele 
and others 1998). Atlas results 
suggest that this species breeds throughout the year with the 
most breeding activity from 
March to June and a peak during 
May and June (see chart). Results 
show that this species mostly 
breeds in the lowlands within the 
subtropical moist forest life zone 
(68 percent of the hexagons) 
(see table and chart). However, 
results indicate that it also breeds 
within the subtropical dry forest 
life zone (29 percent of the 
hexagons) (see table and map).

## Conservation

The current population trend for the Ruddy Duck is described 
as decreasing (Wetlands 
International 2012). However, 
this species is currently listed 
as a species of least concern by 
the IUCN (BirdLife International 
2016). In Puerto Rico, the Ruddy 
Duck is classified as vulnerable 
(PRDNER 2016) and has a 
protected habitat in land of 16 
percent or 127 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons 
where evidence of breeding was 
found for this species (813 km2).

Photo: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_044_Im0.png.webp

Distribution map: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_044_Im1.png.webp

Source note: Text is reproduced from this site's published record. Historical conservation statements and taxonomy have not been independently revalidated. See https://birdsofpuertorico.com/about for source credits and limitations.