Ruddy duck in breeding plumage

A ruddy duck in full breeding color is one of the more striking sights on the refuge’s ponds — that sky-blue bill only shows up for a few months a year, fading to dull gray the rest of the time. The stiff, upright tail is held cocked like this almost constantly, a signature look for the species.

Why it matters

Ruddy ducks are known for an elaborate courtship display in which the male slaps his bill against his chest fast enough to churn the water into bubbles — a behavior tied directly to how vivid that bill color gets during the breeding season.

Getting the shot

Calm water gave a clean reflection and let the duck’s color read at full saturation without any glare to fight. Shot low and level with the water to keep the perspective at the bird’s own eye level rather than looking down on it.