Ruddy Duck

Description:

Diving Ducks Male Ruddy duck during breeding season will still have the black head and white face, but will also have a blue bill and the body will be a dark rusty color and the tail will be blacker with a white rump. The basic color of the male would be be just a dark brown color and brown bill. Females are lighter brown with brown head instead of black. It also has brown streak across a dirty white cheek. They spend most of their time in the water because they way their legs are positioned they become clumsy walking on land. They feed mostly on seeds and roots of aquatic plants, aquatic insects and crustaceans.

Habitat:

The inhabit freshwater and saltwater marshes, lakes, coastal bays and ponds during their breeding season

Notes:

Spotted them as they winter in Lake Merritt.