I photographed these Ruddy Ducks at White Rock Lake. A male and female where busy diving for food near the dam, while a larger congregation was visible a little further out on the lake.
Ruddy Ducks are small ducks with a distinctive long, stiff-feathered tail. The male will develop a bright pastel blue bill during the breeding season. The ruddies in these pictures are still in their winter plumage.
![A male Ruddy Duck](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-001.jpg)
![A female Ruddy Duck](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-002.jpg)
![The long tail is visible in this photograph.](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-003.jpg)
![Here's what it looks like when a ruddy dives.](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-004.jpg)
![Part of the larger congregation in the middle of the lake.](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-005.jpg)
![Diving ducks like ruddies have to build up speed by running on the surface of the water before they are able to take to the air.](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-006.jpg)
![Almost airborne.](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-007.jpg)
![There they go!](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-008.jpg)
![A male ruddy voalizing.](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-009.jpg)
![A handsome male.](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-010.jpg)
![Preening.](http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ruddyduck-totellthetaleofthetail-011.jpg)