English

Wikispecies

Noun

ruddy duck ‎(plural ruddy ducks)

1. Oxyura jamaicensis, a small stifftail duck, the male of which has a rust-coloured body.
   • 2004, Laurie E. Likoff, The Encyclopedia of Birds, Volume 1, page 802,

     Except when migrating, the ruddy duck seldom flies. […] If disturbed by a predator, the ruddy duck dives to escape.

   • 2008, Roslyn M. Frank, Body, Language, and Mind: Sociocultural situatedness, Volume 2, page 170,

     Since hybridization with the ruddy duck could lead to extinction of the white-headed duck, Spain began to kill its ruddy ducks. Trials to eliminate ruddy ducks from the U.K. began in 1999, and were overseen by a euphemistically named White-headed Duck Task Force.

   • 2010, Jacky Turner, Animal Breeding, Welfare and Society, unnumbered page,

     The decision was taken, supported by conservation organizations, that it was necessary to save the white-headed duck species by exterminating all members of the ruddy duck species in Europe, which meant mainly in the UK, where there were an estimated 6000 ruddy ducks in 2000.

Synonyms

• sleepyhead

Translations