FEMALE RUDDY DUCKS

Besides their small size and distinctive shapes, female ruddy ducks have double stripes on their heads.

STIFF TAIL DISPLAY

Ruddy ducks are the last waterfowl to arrive in the spring in Colorado. The males, with their enormous bright blue bills and puffed-up eyebrows sputter and siplay for the females with long, stiff tail feathers erect and fanned out.

Ruddy drakes are show-offs

With a coif worthy of the Fonz, little ruddy duck drakes spend most of the breeding and incubation period showing off for their ladies.

Ruddy duck pair sail around their nesting pond

Unlike most ducks, male members of the stiff-tail group are attentive fathers and participate in rearing the ducklings.

Migrating family of ruddy ducks

Ruddy duck families are close-knit and stay together in family groups until the following spring.