The Ruddy Duck and its Superior Bubble-Making Skills
Sunday, 26 April 2026
The ruddy duck is small compared to other ducks (even though their eggs are huge relative to their size), but once you have seen one, you won’t forget especially if you see a male in mating season (when his beak turns blue and he plumps his head feathers up to make himself look like he has horns!). Although they come from North America, they are making some inroads into Europe. Yet it’s when it comes to their courtship that these ducks become truly memorable! All Things Birdie explains why the duck makes these bubbles (yes, it’s the mating game again) and just as importantly how it is created to become the fascinating bubble display that you can see in the video below. To our ears the mating call of the male doesn’t sound very attractive – it’s something like a belch, but I am sure the female ruddies just love it! Find out more about the ruddy duck by watching the video. Image Credit
