Written by Peter Pearsall/Photos by Peter Pearsall
The wood duck (Aix sponsa) is one of the most striking dabbling ducks in North America. The male, or drake, is especially colorful with a glossy green head, red eyes, and a white throat patch extending into stippling across the breast. The chest and flanks are rich chestnut, with iridescent blue and black across the back. The female, or hen, is more subdued in color, featuring a gray-brown body, white-stippled breast, and a distinctive white eye-ring.
Wood ducks are commonly found in wooded swamps, marshes, and along streams and rivers with abundant riparian vegetation. They prefer shallow waters with plenty of cover from shrubs and trees. They are also known to inhabit human-made ponds and lakes.
These dabblers have a diverse diet that includes seeds, fruits, insects, and other small aquatic organisms. They forage in shallow waters and along the shorelines, often dabbling at the surface or diving slightly to reach food.
Breeding wood ducks are unique among North American waterfowl in that they often nest in tree cavities or nest boxes near water. The female lines the nest with down feathers and lays a clutch of 6-16 creamy white eggs. After an incubation period of about 30 days, the precocial ducklings hatch and are soon led to water by the mother.
The Wood Duck population suffered a decline in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to habitat loss and hunting. However, conservation efforts, including the establishment of nest box programs and hunting regulations, have led to a significant recovery. Today, Wood Ducks are listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN.
