Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis

'Ruddy' is for the male's rusty-red body, but its scientific name points at the other end: Oxyura means 'sharp tail,' for the long, stiff tail it often holds cocked up.

Oxyura joins the Greek oxus, 'sharp,' and oura, 'tail'; jamaicensis means 'from Jamaica,' though it lives across North America.