Wood Duck
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Baresi_franco" title="User:Baresi franco">Francis C. Franklin</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NameWood Duck
Common NameWood Duck
Scientific NameAix sponsa
FamilyAnatidae
Wingspan (cm)69.5
Length (cm)50.5
Weight (g)650
Plumage DetailsMale Wood Ducks have an iridescent green and purple head with a prominent crest and two white stripes extending from the eye to the back of the head. Their eyes are bright red, and the bill is red with a yellow patch at the base and a black tip. The throat is white, and the chest is a rich chestnut with white flecks, transitioning to dark flanks and a bronze back.
Vocalization / CallMales typically emit a rising 'jeeeeee' whistle, while females produce a loud, drawn-out 'oo-eek, oo-eek' call, especially when flushed.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswooded swamps, marshes, ponds, rivers, lakes
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeNative to North America, breeding across much of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, and along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California. Also found in parts of Mexico.
Identifying Featuresiridescent green and purple head, red eye, white facial stripes, crested head, red and yellow bill, chestnut chest, perching duck
Description
The Wood Duck is a strikingly beautiful perching duck, with males displaying iridescent green, purple, and chestnut plumage. They are typically found in wooded wetlands, where they forage for seeds, acorns, and insects, often nesting in tree cavities.
