Ruddy Duck

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice, France • August, 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ruddy Duck
Latin: Oxyura jamaicensis
Other: Erismature rousse
Family: Anatidae • Ducks

The Ruddy Duck is not originally European but American. Having been introduced in Britain it is now colonising the continent and threatening the endangered White-headed Duck, with which it is hybridizing. Apparently the Ruddy males are "sexually aggressive".

However moves are afoot to "remove", or extirpate, the Ruddy Duck from the ecosystem, in order to save the White Headed Duck, which can be found in southern Spain and a few other small colonies in southern Europe.

In Britain the Ruddy Duck has been labelled a pest by the RSPB and the hunting ban has been lifted on it. This refugee was seen in Nice, presumably working his way down to Grenada to check out the White Headed señoritas!