![\"ruddy](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ruddy-duck-1573-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBehaviorally the Ruddy Duck may be the most interesting (and amusing) waterfowl species in North America.\u00a0Its nesting customs are curious\u00a0to say the least, its courtship rituals have been described as ludicrous and the electric blue bill of the breeding male is unique.<\/p>\n
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\u00a01\/2500 f\/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon<\/em> EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n There’s been a pair of them hanging out at the 4-way pond at Farmington for some time now. They spend most of their time\u00a0resting and sleeping but the excitement\u00a0caused by a nearby Pied-billed Grebe in a panic dive from some imaginary threat (if there was one I didn’t see\u00a0what it was) woke this adult female up and soon\u00a0she raised up in the water in a wing-flapping display. The wing position, raised body,\u00a0long stiff tail and especially the feather on the bill make this shot for me.\u00a0I do wish for a lower angle on the duck but that’s\u00a0virtually impossible at this pond.<\/p>\n Ruddy Ducks are incredibly interesting birds for a variety of reasons, including the following:<\/p>\n The structure\/evolution of duck intromittent organs\u00a0is absolutely\u00a0fascinating.\u00a0I’m including this link<\/a> to illustrate, but beware – the approach is irreverent and the humor may be lost on some.\u00a0 If you have delicate sensibilities you may wish you had read about it instead of watching the clip (some may have seen it before).<\/p>\n Personally, I loved it.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Behaviorally the Ruddy Duck may be the most interesting (and amusing) waterfowl species in North America. Its nesting customs are curious to say the least, its courtship rituals have been described as ludicrous and the electric blue bill of the breeding male is unique.<\/p>\n\n