Ruddy Shelducks are found in northwest African and Ethiopia and from southeast Europe to Southeast Asia. They are becoming rare in Europe. Sexes are similar but the female usually has a white face patch and the male has a black ring at the bottom of the neck during breeding season.

Diet includes grasses, leaves, seeds and stem of plants and sedges, grain, shoots and vegetables. They also eat terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, small fish and amphibians.