Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis)
Species name
- Dutch name:
- Stekelstaarteend (noord-amerikaanse)
- English name:
- Ruddy duck
- German name:
- Schwarzkopfruderente
- French name:
- Érismature rousse
- Scientific name:
- Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis
Scientific classification
- Order:
- Anseriformes
- Family:
- Anatidae
- Onderfamilie:
- Oxyurinae
- Genus:
- Oxyura
Description
- Description:
Male:
Have blackish caps that contrast with bright white cheeks. In summer, they have rich chestnut bodies with bright blue bills. In winter, they are dull gray-brown above and paler below with dull gray bills.Female:
Have grayish-brown neck and body plumage. The sides of the head and neck are dull buff-brown with a single dusky horizontal stripe crossing a pale-gray cheek patch. The bill is dark gray and the legs and feet are grayish. Females are relatively silent.Juvenile:
is similar to the female, but the black on its face is less pronounced. First-year males are brownish, somewhat like winter males but with a blurry stripe across the pale cheek patch.
Standard Measurements
- Body Length (cm):
- The male (drake) of the Ruddy duck measures approximately 34–43 centimeters. The female measures approximately 34-43 centimeters.
- Body Weight (grams):
- The male will weight about 420-680 gram. The female will weight about 420-680 gram.
The weight is notoriously variable and can only be used as indication!
- Subspecies:
There are 3 subspecies:
- Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis - The Ruddy duck
- Oxyura jamaicensis andina - The Colombian Ruddy Duck
- Oxyura jamaicensis ferruginea - The Peruvian(Andean) Ruddy Duck
- Note:
Pairs form after the birds have arrived on the breeding grounds. Nests are situated in dense marsh vegetation. The female builds a platform of grasses and cattails, lines it with down, and anchors it to emergent vegetation a few inches above the water. Many nests are concealed by vegetation pulled over the nest, which gives them a basket-shaped appearance. Sometimes the nest is built on top of an old muskrat house or bird’s nest.
- Breeding:
- The female Ruddy duck usually lays from 5-10 big, white, pebbly-textured eggs and incubates them for 22-26 days.
- Artificial incubating:
The ideal relative humidity for incubating most waterfowl eggs is 55% (ground nesters) and 40% (cavity nesters). The temperature is usually 37.4°C. Set ventilation as recommended by the incubator manufacturer. Eggs must be turned, either automatically or by hand, a minimum of 4 times a day. As the duckling develops there is a loss of water from the egg and the air sac gets bigger. In normal development of an egg with a 22-26 days incubation, the air sac occupies about a third of it three days earlier. Cleanliness is vital and ideally eggs should be moved to a separate hatcher at this point, where the humidity should be increased to 65% and even higher once they have pipped internally.
- Bird banding:
- Recommended closed leg band ring size for the Ruddy duck is 9 mm.The leg band ring can only be applied on a young stiff-tailed duck at around 12 days old.
- It doesn't matter what leg that you band, but it's good to have a consistent system. Suggested: Left leg = Female, Right leg = Male
- Rearingfeed:
-
Lundi Regular with a protein content of 20%, valuable Spirulina and high-quality by-products is optimally balanced in its composition maintenance food for water ornamental fowl of all kinds. Especially green teal and Whistling ducks that are not dependent on a very high protein content, are well supplied.
Lundi Regular contains all the minerals and vitamins in full form that are important for the animals. Therefore also suitable as breeding food.
- Maintenance food:
-
Lundi Regular with a protein content of 20%, valuable Spirulina and high-quality by-products is optimally balanced in its composition maintenance food for water ornamental fowl of all kinds. Especially green teal and Whistling ducks that are not dependent on a very high protein content, are well supplied.
Lundi Regular contains all the minerals and vitamins in full form that are important for the animals. Therefore also suitable as breeding food.
Floating full food for all sea ducks, green ducks, eider ducks and geese, especially in the moulting and breeding phase ideally suited. Packed with wholesome raw materials, natural vitamins and trace elements, this performance food with a protein content of 30% forms the basis for lifelong vitality.
Photos of the Ruddy duck
