Day 202: Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Ducks are small, stiff-tailed ducks (you can see their tails sticking up in the photos below). They can be found throughout much of the U.S. and Mexico in both breeding and wintering populations. In Maryland, they are normally here during the winter.

Adult males have a rust-red body, a blue bill, and a white face with a black cap. Adult females have a grey-brown body with a greyish face with a darker bill, cap and a cheek stripe. Sorry these photos aren't better, I took them before we got the new lens earlier this year!