Looking for love...
Part of the magic this summer was to not only see a Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage, but to see one performing the courting behavior to win over a female of the species!! I had a lot of fun watching this drake raise his head high, beat his chest vigorously several times, and then lean forward and open his beak just a little as though he's blowing kisses! This image shows the chest beating phase where he's hitting his chest hard enough to cause the water to jump up and form bubbles. What an interesting performance! I hope he gets the hen he wants!
Many thanks to my friend Margaret who showed me around the area where I saw and captured photos of so many new - to me - species of birds!
Taken 8 June 2017 near Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Looking for love...
Part of the magic this summer was to not only see a Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage, but to see one performing the courting behavior to win over a female of the species!! I had a lot of fun watching this drake raise his head high, beat his chest vigorously several times, and then lean forward and open his beak just a little as though he's blowing kisses! This image shows the chest beating phase where he's hitting his chest hard enough to cause the water to jump up and form bubbles. What an interesting performance! I hope he gets the hen he wants!
Many thanks to my friend Margaret who showed me around the area where I saw and captured photos of so many new - to me - species of birds!
Taken 8 June 2017 near Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, Canada.