The Ruddy Duck is a small, chunky duck with a stiff tail it holds cocked upright, and the male in breeding plumage has a vivid chestnut body, blue bill, and white cheeks. It is a diving duck that winter-swells large flocks on coastal bays and reservoirs. Females lay proportionally the largest eggs of any duck — each egg can be 3% of the female's body weight.
Habitat
Prairie potholes in summer; bays, estuaries, and lakes in winter
Diet
Aquatic invertebrates and plant material
How common
Common
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