Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
- Class
- Bird
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 45,151
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a species of duck, one of six extant species of stiff-tailed duck (genus Oxyura). In the 1940s, the ruddy duck was introduced to the United Kingdom, where it established a population. Outside the Americas, the ruddy duck is considered a highly invasive species, prompting many countries to initiate culling projects to eradicate it from the native ecosystem. The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek oxus meaning "sharp", and oura meaning "tail". The specific name jamaicensis means "from Jamaica". The ruddy duck has also been nicknamed "butterball", a term used to describe an individual that is somewhat fat, due to its short and stout stature making activities like flying and walking upright awkward.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Ruddy duck”.