# Wood Duck (*Aix sponsa*) The Wood Duck is a colorful duck with bright feathers! It likes to nest in tree cavities and can often be seen perched on branches. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 239 - **Habitat:** Wooded swamps and marshes - **Also known as:** Summer Duck, Woodie ![Wood Duck](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426108/objects/4612.jpg) ## Appearance The Wood Duck has a striking appearance; males boast an iridescent green-purple head with white stripes, a bright red eye, and a chestnut breast. Females are duller grey-brown with a distinctive white eye-patch, making them easily identifiable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Aix ## Interesting facts - Males have incredible iridescent feathers that shimmer with every movement! - They are one of the only duck species with strong claws for perching in trees! - Wood Duck ducklings safely jump from tree nests over 50 feet high! - Wood Ducks famously "dump" eggs into other ducks' nests for them to raise! ## Special abilities - **Arboreal Acrobat:** Wood Duck can nest and perch high in tree cavities because of strong claws that help them grip bark. - **Forest Flyer:** Wood Duck can fly swiftly through dense wooded areas, helping them escape predators and navigate tight spaces. - **Diving Diner:** Wood Duck can dive underwater for short periods to snatch up hidden aquatic insects and seeds. - **Nest Navigator:** Female Wood Ducks sometimes lay eggs in other duck nests, ensuring more of their ducklings hatch. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 47-54 cm - **Wingspan:** 66-73 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-0.9 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 64 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 6-15 - **Incubation:** 28-32 days - **Migration Distance:** 1000 km ## Diet & Feeding Wood Ducks feast on a mix of plants and insects found near water! - **Age differences:** Ducklings primarily eat insects for protein, adults shift more to plants. - **Primary Foods:** acorns, seeds, berries, aquatic insects, small fish, tadpoles - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — hunts adults and ducklings. - **Eaten by:** [American Mink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-mink) (*Mustela vison*) — preys on eggs and ducklings near water. - **Depends on:** North American Beaver (*Castor canadensis*) — beaver dams create ideal flooded forest habitat. - **Eats:** Red Oak (*Quercus rubra*) — relies on their acorns as a key food source. - **Depends on:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — uses their old nesting cavities. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Wood Duck? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Wood Duck? 47-54 cm ### What is Wood Duck's wingspan? 66-73 cm ### How much does Wood Duck weigh? 0.5-0.9 kg ### How long does Wood Duck live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Wood Duck move? 64 km/h ### What does Wood Duck eat? Wood Ducks feast on a mix of plants and insects found near water! ### Where is Wood Duck usually found? Wooded swamps and marshes ## Where to spot - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadmoor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadmoor) — Louisiana, US · Neighborhood - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Burke Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burke-lake-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Cedarville State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarville-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest - [Cleveland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cleveland-park) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Wood Duck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wood-duck) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Wood Duck: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wood-duck)