Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)

Overview

Summary

© Jukka Jantunen
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The Ruddy Duck is not an abundant species in Canada and is mainly found in the Prairie Pothole Region. The Ruddy Duck winters in saline coastal habitats and large inland water bodies in the United States and Mexico. Since the 1970’s, Ruddy Duck numbers have remained stable throughout its Canadian breeding range. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Population status

Population estimate

Distribution maps

• BirdLife International / NatureServe

Migration strategy, occurrence

Responsibility for conservation of world population

Conservation and management

As with many North American waterfowl species, the loss or degradation of habitat, especially in the Prairie Potholes, is of concern for Ruddy Duck. Also, as a diving duck, Ruddy Ducks are prone to accumulate contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyl, selenium, heavy metals and lead. The species is not an important game bird species in Canada. In Canada, the average annual harvest in the last 20 years was 2000 birds, with most of the harvest occurring in Ontario.

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

• conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
• stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
• management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
• other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

References

• Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee. 2014. Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada: November 2014. CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee. 2014. Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada: November 2014. CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. (Link)