Ruddy Duck Courting

Gallery: AvianPosted July 27, 2012147 views13 comments

This Ruddy Duck was going through his courtship ritual for a female just out of frame. If you have never seen a male ruddy doing his deal for a female you have really missed something very unique. This image captures him about mid-way through one iteration.

I really like the light and the water in this shot.

Please view larger version for max details.

Canon 1DM4
Canon 500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 800
1/2500s
f/8
Manual exp.
Hand held

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 27, 2012 at 6:12 PM

Very nice. Good exposure on a tough subject. I wish a few would hang around Phoenix with such nice plumage.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 27, 2012 at 6:30 PM

Would like to have witnessed this myself Ron.
Love this image, it tells the story well. Erect tail, head/neck feathers sharply raised and bill tightly tucked..all just parts of this unique & complicated mating ritual. And she has to have everything just right ya know

The water jumping out in front's the icing on the cake

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 27, 2012 at 9:22 PM

A lovely capture of a remarkable courtship display, Ron. And a vivid illustration of why they are called stiff-tailed ducks. Nice work on the difficult blacks and whites.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 27, 2012 at 11:28 PM

Beautiful! Love the front splash.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on July 28, 2012 at 1:07 AM

These birds are always so comical. This one is great, Ron. I like the little splash of water coming off of the birds chest. Well done.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 28, 2012 at 2:23 AM

Nice one Ron

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 28, 2012 at 2:40 AM

Great capture of very interesting behaviour.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 28, 2012 at 4:46 AM

Great shot of this Ruddy displaying Ron. The bubbling water is a very nice plus. Excellent exposure work!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 29, 2012 at 11:56 AM

Love the pose, and the splash!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on July 30, 2012 at 6:51 AM

Ron, excellent shot. The beautiful light on the water& the reflection add a lot.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 31, 2012 at 10:10 PM

Very nice, Ron. Good light and angle. I saw one of these ducks go through this display couple of years back - it was pretty neat and somewhat comical.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Kleinfelder on August 1, 2012 at 6:18 AM

Great shot Ron of a very unique bird. The texture of the water that he has forced forward is very interesting. Well done!

Registered on September 6, 2011, 14 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 1, 2012 at 4:30 PM

They really do put on a show at Sweetwater in Tucson also, nice job in getting this difficult color contrast, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments