Complete Name : Oxyura jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1789)
Taxonomy : Aves » Chordata » » Anseriformes » Anatidae » Oxyura jamaicensis
Authors : Susan Shirley
Last Updated : February 21st, 2007

Ruddy duck.

A small diving duck inhabiting freshwater habitats. Omnivorous, feeding on molluscs, insects and their larvae especially chironomid larvae, but also on seeds and parts of water plants. Distinguished by a long, sometimes erect tail characteristic of the stifftail tribe Oxyurini, with males having a bright blue bill, black crown and nape, white cheeks and reddish body.

• Dispersal Mechanisms
  • Northern populations in North America migrate south to Florida and as far south as Costa Rica, seasonal dispersal in resident UK populations.
• Reproduction
  • Breeds singly or colonially from April-August, usually breeds once per season, but can be double-brooded. It lays 4-12 eggs (max. 20, mean 7).
• Known Predators/Herbivores
  • Egg predators include raccoons, minks, skunks, foxes, corvids, and Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) In the native range. Gulls, herons and fish such as pike and bass prey on ducklings. Adults hunted in parts of native and introduced range. Predators have limited impact on adults in winter, except for hunting pressure.
• Resistant Stages (seeds, spores etc.)
  • None.

• Native (EUNIS Code)
  • B: Coastal habitats, C: Inland surface water habitats, D: Mire, bog and fen habitats
• Habitat Occupied in Invaded Range (EUNIS Code)
  • B: Coastal habitats, C: Inland surface water habitats, D: Mire, bog and fen habitats
• Habitat Requirements
  • Almost exclusively freshwater; prefers pools with fairly shallow bottoms and rich in aquatic plants; avoids flowing fresh water.

Escapes and accidental releases from waterfowl collections and breeding farms
Natural spread to Europe from UK populations.

• Native Range
  • Northwestern and north-central U.S.A. and Canada, Central America, Caribbean, Andean highlands
• Known Introduced Range
  • Recorded in 21 Western Palearctic countries from Belgium east across to Turkey, south to Spain, Portugal, Italy and Morocco and north to Norway; Iceland. The UK has the largest population with around 5,000 individuals followed by France with 50 breeding pairs while other countries currently have very low numbers.
• Trend
  • Increasing in several European countries; some actions to control populations exist in at least 15 Western Palearctic countries.

known distribution area (in CGRS grid squares; in countries; along coast)

	eradicated
	extinct
	not present; eradicated
	native distribution range in CGRS grid squares
	native range
	assumed native range
	infrequent distribution
	key distribution area
	not established

• Ecosystem Impact
  • Hybridization with two species including the VULNERABLE White-headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala. It is dominant over this species in the wild. First and second generation hybrid back-crosses with the Ruddy Duck are fertile and dominant also. A serious threat to this species.
• Health and Social Impact
  • None.
• Economic Impact
  • Costs of eradication are considerable. There is an ongoing eradication program in the UK since 1992 with the goal of reducing the population to less than 175 birds or 5 % of the 1999 population at an estimated cost of 3.6 million GB Pounds or 4.4 million Euros over a 4-6 year period. By 2004, at least 15 countries in the Western Palearctic were taking actions to control populations. Approximately 5,500 individuals have been controlled in various countries, particularly the UK (5,100), France (246) and Spain (217).

• Prevention
  • Major steps are to establish baseline information and monitor existing wild and captive populations. Legislation should be improved to prevent deliberate introductions and to limit or remove populations. Strict controls, such as licensing, should be put in place to prevent escapes or ban their inclusion in captive collections.
• Mechanical
  • Culling (shooting) has been applied in France since 1998, Spain since 1993 and Portugal. The largest population and assumed source of some introductions is the UK where culling has been controversial.
• Chemical
  • None.
• Biological
  • None.

The following contributors have provided records in the DAISIE database for this species.

The following experts registered themselves as having knowledge about this species or its family.

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Hughes B (2005) Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis. In: Kear J (ed) Bird families of the world: ducks, geese and swans, Oxford University Press, Oxford

Hughes B, Robinson J, Green AJ, Li ZWD, Mundkur T (2006) International single species action plan for the conservation of the White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala. Retrieved from http://www.unep-aewa.org/publications/technical_series/ts8_ssap_white-headed-duck_complete.pdf on October 24, 2006

Owen M, Callaghan D, Kirby J (2006). Guidelines on Avoidance of Introductions of Non-native Waterbird Species. AEWA Technical Series No. 12. Bonn, Germany. http://www.unep-aewa.org/publications/technical_series.htm

Blair MJ, McKay H, Musgrove AJ, Rehfisch MM (2000) Review of the Status of Introduced Non-Native Waterbird Species in the Agreement Area of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement Research Contract CR0219. British Trust for Ornithology. Thetford, Norfolk, 129

Brua RB (1999) Ruddy Duck nesting success: Do nest characteristics deter nest predation? Condor 101:867-870

Cramp S, Simmons KEL (1977) Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Oxford University Press. Oxford

Green AJ, Hughes BJ (2001) Oxyura leucocephala White-headed Duck. In: Parkin DB. BWP Update: The journal of birds of the Western Paleoarctic. 79-90, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Hagemeijer EJM, Blair MJ (Eds) (1997) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & AD Poyser, London

Hill M, Baker R, Broad G, Chandler PJ, Copp GH, Ellis J, Jones D, Hoyland C, Laing I, Longshaw Moore N, Parrott D, Pearman D, Preston C, Smith RM, Waters R (2005) Audit of non-native species in England. English Nature Research Reports. Retrieved from http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/662.pdf on 7 November 2005

Munoz-Fuentes V, Green AJ, Sorenson MD, Negro JJ, Vila C (2006) The ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis in Europe: natural colonization or human introduction? Molecular Ecology 15 (6):1441-1453

Hughes B (2006) Issg: Ecology of Oxyura jamaicensis. Retrieved from http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=152&fr=1&sts=sss on October 15, 2006.

Hughes B, Criado J, Delany S, Gallo-Urse U, Green AJ, Grussu M, Perrenou C, Torres JA (1999) The status of the North American ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis in the Western Palearctic: towards an action plan for eradication. Wildlife and Wetlands Trust to the Council of Europe.

Kear J (1964) Wildfowl and Agriculture in Britain. Proc. M.A.R. Conf., pp. 321-331, I.U.C.N. Publ. New Ser. (3)

Lever C (1987) Naturalized Birds of the World. Longman. London

Long JL (1981) Introduced Birds of the World. Universe Books. New York