But only the males. Not the most dutiful of parents, males often abandon their mates shortly after the eggs have been laid. And female ruddy ducks are known to lay their eggs in nests belonging to other ruddy ducks, canvasbacks and redheads. If you visit the Nickajack exhibit here at the Tennessee Aquarium, be sure to check out the water's surface very carefully for our resident ruddy. If the divers happen to be in the tank feeding the fish you will probably have the opportunity to see the underwater acrobatic antics of this chunky little duck.
Chances are it was a wood duck, one of the few ducks that roost and nest in trees.
You can spot them near small ponds or lakes that are surrounded by trees. If you spot the male during the breeding season, you are in for a real treat. To win the female's affection during mating season. Since she nests inside trees, quiet shades of earthy brown and gray create perfect camouflage. She builds her nest inside a hollow tree.