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.

Habitat: Wooded swamps and marshes

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.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAnseriformesFamilyAnatidaeGenusAix

Wood Duck

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

Wood Duck can nest and perch high in tree cavities because of strong claws that help them grip bark.

Wood Duck can fly swiftly through dense wooded areas, helping them escape predators and navigate tight spaces.

Wood Duck can dive underwater for short periods to snatch up hidden aquatic insects and seeds.

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
Top 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

Buteo jamaicensis

hunts adults and ducklings.

eaten by

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

Dryocopus pileatus

uses their old nesting cavities.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Omnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

Arboreal

Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

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.