Wild Bird Wednesday

The Ruddy Duck

 I have not seen these ducks on our lake before.  They are a group that are migrating through.  I have seen them in Wisconsin, so maybe they don't have too far to go.

Here the markings of the female and male are clear.  The female has a slight line through the light section of her face and the male, with very distinct coloring, has a bright baby blue bill during mating season.

This little fella ... perhaps a juvenile.  He/she has no markings and no up lifted tail ... but otherwise, looks like a Ruddy Duck.

Andrea