Wood Duck
Aix sponsa · Bird, Vertebrate, Warm-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Family Anatidae, order Anseriformes, class Aves
Animal Category
Waterfowl
Breed / Variety
Wood Duck
Conservation Status
Least Concern status on the IUCN Red List with a stable to increasing population trend, successfully recovering from historical over-hunting through conservation and artificial nest box programs.
About This Creature
Medium-sized perching duck measuring about 47 to 54 cm in length with a wingspan of 66 to 73 cm. Adult males (drakes) are brilliantly colored with an iridescent green and purple crest, white facial lines, a chestnut breast with white spots, and rich buff flanks. Females (hens) are less flashy, mostly grey-brown with a distinct white eye-patch.
Physical Characteristics
Compact body, crested head, broad wings, and a relatively long, wide tail. Males possess striking multicolored plumage, red eyes, and a yellowish-orange and black bill. Females have brownish-grey plumage with a white teardrop-shaped eye-ring extending behind the eye. Sharp claws enable them to grip tree bark and perch in trees.
Behavior & Temperament
Social birds outside of breeding season, forming small flocks. Diurnal and highly active during early morning and late afternoon. They are capable flyers weaving through dense forest canopy and possess sharp calls including a distinctive, rising whistle.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
North America, commonly found throughout forested wetlands across the eastern half of the United States and along the Pacific coast
Habitat
Wetland/Marsh, Forest, Freshwater (River/Lake); Semi-aquatic and Arboreal (nesting in tree cavities)
Diet & Nutrition
Omnivore with a diet heavy in seeds, acorns, fruits, aquatic plants, and insects. Foraging primarily by dabbling in shallow water or gleaning mast from the forest floor.
Lifespan & Health
Typical lifespan in the wild is around 3 to 4 years, though some can live up to several years longer. Subject to predation by raccoons, hawks, and large owls. Females lay clutches of 9 to 14 eggs in tree cavities.
Special Characteristics
One of the few North American ducks equipped with strong claws that allow them to perch and nest high up in tree cavities. Known for precocial ducklings that leap from high tree nests to the ground shortly after hatching.
Ecological Information
Acts as an important seed disperser for various wetland plants and mast-producing trees. Serves as prey for various avian and terrestrial predators, contributing to the balance of freshwater wetland ecosystems.