RUDDY DUCK 367 



VOICE. The courtship voice of the male is: chuck-chuck-chuck-chuck-chur-r-r; 

 and ip-ip-ip-ip-u-cluck, cluck; and tick, tick, tick, tickety, quo-ack; also chica, chica, 

 chica, chica, quak. Both sexes are otherwise silent. 



LIFE STORY 



The curious, sprightly, comical little Ruddy Duck is exclusively a 

 North American species. On this continent it is widely scattered from 

 our eastern to our western coasts. It is one of the most peculiar and dis- 

 tinctive of all ducks, and the subfamily to which it belongs has but little 

 in common with the other groups of ducks. 



To appreciate what a striking picture he makes, the male Ruddy 

 should be seen at home on his breeding range, arrayed in all the glory 

 of his brilliant summer plumage. "In the midst of a sea of tall, waving 

 flags a quiet, sheltered pool reflects on its glassy surface the dark green 

 of its surroundings, an appropriate setting for the little gem of bird life 

 that floats gently on its surface, his back glowing with the rich, red 

 brown of his nuptial attire, offset by the pure white of his cheeks, his 

 black crown, and above all his wonderful bill of the brightest, living, 

 glowing sky blue. He knows he is handsome as he glides smoothly along, 

 without a ripple, his saucy sprigtail held erect or even pointed forward 

 till it nearly meets his upturned head; he seems to strut like a miniature 

 turkey gobbler" (Bent, 1925). 



The courtship display of the Ruddy is a striking performance on 

 the part of the male, and he probably outdoes most, if not all, of his kind 

 in this respect. He seems to know that in his bright summer garb he is 

 a handsome little fellow and shows himself off with obvious conceit. He 

 swims round and about the female with his tail tilted forward until it 

 almost touches his head. Now the 

 head is stretched out to the full ex- 

 tent of the short little neck, now it 

 is drawn close to the body. He con- 

 tinually slaps his bright blue bill 

 against his red chest, which is 



puffed out like that of a pouter courtship of Ruddy Duck 



pigeon. While swimming about he 

 continually utters his call, chuck-chuck -chuck-chuck-chur-r-r. The feath- 

 ers over the eyes are puffed up into two swollen protuberances and his 

 orbs gleam forth with what appear to be belligerent and baneful glances, 

 but which to his intent must have a totally different significance. In 

 another pose, with the bill pressed down on the chest feathers, the back 

 puffed up and the tail under water, he seems to stand up and scoot over 

 the surface at a surprising speed. Often, in doing his chin exercises, he 

 pumps up a laboured ip-ip-ip-ip-u-cluck, cluck, almost as if choking. He 

 kicks the water with both feet working together, making it spurt out be- 

 hind him, and may utter another of his courtship calls, tick, tick, tick, 

 tickety, quo-ack. The female, when impressed with the drake's perform- 



