Ruddy Duck Courting Session

As you might already know, Ruddy Ducks are my favorite species of duck. I find them fascinating because they look like they are always smiling and also because it looks like someone painted their bills with my favorite color of nail polish.

See the resemblance?

Ruddy Ducks also perform the coolest mating display ever. (Yep, that's a fact.) They court females by beating their bill against their neck hard enough to create a swirl of bubbles in the water. While we were on the auto tour at the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge we actually got to see one awesome little male in action!

I never thought we'd get to witness such a thing because what are the odds that we'd be at the right place at the right time to see it? Well, I should start planning a trip to Vegas (or at least the local casino) because see it we did!

Without further ado, here is a video of this crazy cool duck doin' his thang. The little frog sound he makes at the end of his routine is the cherry on top! I dare you not to smile...

Didn't I tell you he's the greatest duck ever?