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| Wetlands & Waterfowl's Guide to North American Waterfowl: | |||
| Click to load: American Bittern American Widgeon Black- Crowned Night Heron Black Duck Blue-Winged Teal Canada Goose Canvasback Cattle Egret Common Egret Cinnamon Teal Gadwall Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green-Winged Teal Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Mallard Mute Swan Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Redhead Ring-Necked Snowy Egret Snow Goose Trumpeter Swan Wood Duck |
Wood Duck Scroll down for details  Scientific Name: Aix
sponsa Habitat: swamps, ponds and marshes Appearance: Male: 17-20" long. Long tail and crest. Bold white face pattern; red bill; chestnut breast; buff flanks. Female: long tail and crest, white eye patch, dark grey body. Food: Aquatic plants, fruit, nuts, insects, small fish, crustaceans. Nesting: Nest is a shallow cup of white down in a tree cavity 5-50 feet above ground. Female lays 8-14 dull white or tan eggs, incubates for 28-32 days. Young are downy, leave nest soon after hatching; first fly at about 7 weeks. Sometimes 2 broods per season. |
The Wood Duck is widely regarded as one of the
most beautiful of all American waterfowl. Though gentle and placid, the Wood Duck is also
suprisingly strong. Nevertheless, by the early 20th century, hunters had almost wiped out
this distinguished bird. Fortunately, protective laws have allowed for a healthy comeback
for the Wood Duck. Additional Photographs: |
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