The Wood Duck

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Ranked #571 in Animals, #15,594 overall

A Very Distictive Dabbler

Wood Ducks are dabbling ducks and fun to watch. This colorful bird will search for food near the water's edge. When they spot something tasty, their heads go down and their tails up. It's quick and efficient but comical to watch.

Description 

The Wood Duck is a small to medium size dabbling duck measuring 19 inches in length. The adult male has red eyes and a distinctive orange beak with a black tip, and multi-colored iridescent plumage. Their head is streaked with green, white, and brown, and they had a distinctive white patch on their cheek. The breast feathers are dark brown with white spots and they have iridescent blue-green feathers on their back. The male Wood Duck is easily spotted and easily identified.

The female is brown with white stripes on her breast and a small blue spot on her wing. The dark beak, white throat and eye patches add to the overall camouflage pattern. Hidden within the reeds and grasses along the shoreline, the female is difficult to spot. Both adults have crested heads which is not always noticeable. Juveniles resemble the females, as do non-breeding males.

The Wood Duck 

Wood Duck 2 by Bobolink

Wood Duck 2

Wood Duck by auburnxc

Wood Duck

7-20-09 033 Female Wood Duck by (Bill and Mavis)  - B&M Photography

7-20-09 033 Female W...

May 22, 2009 by auburnxc

May 22, 2009

May 22, 2009 by auburnxc

May 22, 2009

May 17, 2009 by auburnxc

May 17, 2009

automatically generated by Flickr

Range and Habitat 

The Wood Duck inhabits wooded wetlands, slow-moving tree lined rivers, marshes and ponds along the eastern and western coasts of the United States and Mexico. They prefer habitats with deciduous trees, and tend to shy away from human interaction. They are rarely seen along coastal waterways.

To imprint her voice on her ducklings, the hen begins communicating to them before they hatch. She quietly "quacks" to them throughout the incubation period.

Mating and Nesting 

The Wood Duck are cavity nesters. The most common natural cavities used are abandoned woodpecker holes, but will use artificial nest boxes. They line the cavity with down before the female lays her eggs. The usual clutch size is 9 to 14 eggs and they are incubated for 25 to 35 days. Once the female starts incubating the eggs, the pair split up. The male Wood Duck joins other males and finds a secluded spot and starts their annual molt. The female molts while still tending her young.

Less than 24 hours after hatching, the young leap from the nest to the ground or the water. They can swim and feed themselves right from the start but the female will tend them for another 5 or 6 weeks before abandoning them. Not yet able to fly, the young are on their own. At 8 to 9 weeks of age they gain their wings and fly.

The day after the eggs hatch, the female Wood Duck will perch on a nearby tree and call to her young. One-by-one the ducklings climb to the entrance of the nest and jump. The drop can be up to 60 feet. Once all the ducklings are on the ground, the hen leads her brood to the water.

Diet 

While aquatic plant seeds make up a majority of their diet, the Wood Duck is an omnivore. They will eat aquatic invertebrates as well as insects such as beetles, dragonflies and grasshoppers. They will forage on land for seeds, wander through grain fields, and search berries and other fruits growing close to the ground. When residing in areas with oak trees, acorns are a major part of their diet.

Mallards are known as puddle or dabbling ducks, which means they search for food on or near the water's surface. They dabble by tipping up with their head under water, and their tail wagging in the wind.

Waterfowl: An Identification Guide 

Waterfowl: An Identification Guide to the Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)Buy Now

An Amazon Review
Waterfowl: An Identification Guide to the Ducks, Geese and Swans of the World" is a wonderful guide for waterfowl identification, with beautiful colored plates of all 155 species of ducks, geese, and swans. A really nice book for everyone who likes wild waterfowl. The only thing I miss are the screamers which are also a part of the anseriformes (waterfowl).

Voice 

The female Wood Duck's voice is a shrill who-eek, who-eek, who-eek. The male's is a less distinctive squeak.

Listen to the call of the Wood Duck: Sound Byte: The Wood Duck, National Park Service

Wood Duck Box 

Wood Duck Nest Box, Tan

Amazon Price: $56.81 (as of 12/17/2009)Buy Now

This Wood Duck Box is in compliance with The Audubon Society's specifications. It should be mounted on a post 4 to 10 feet high or on a tree 10 to 20 feet high and within a ΒΌ mile of water.

Conservation Status 

There was a serious decline in the number of Wood Duck during the late 19th Century due to habitat loss and over-hunting. They were on the verge of extinction early in the 20th Century. They came under the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918. Changes in the gaming laws and initiatives to provide nest boxes has made a difference. The population of wood ducks has reached to sustainable numbers.

The Nikon Monarch Binoculars 

Perfect for watching the Wood Duck and other Aquatic Life

Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars


Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars

Great Bird Watching Binoculars

The waterproof, fog-free Nikon binoculars are perfect for outdoor use. Bright, beautifully defined images are delivered by superior quality, multilayer coated lense.O-ring seals and nitrogen gas provide added resistance to the effects of changes in climate, while the durable design and rubber armoring ensure reliable performance and a comfortable grip, even during prolonged use. Worry-free viewing of the great outdoors.

Some of My Favorite Dabblers 

Have you seen any interesting birds lately? 

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About the Author 

Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 4,009 lenses, favorited 445, and has created 200 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "2009 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments". See all my lenses

Peterson's Field Guide to Birds 

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)

Amazon Price: $16.38 (as of 12/17/2009)Buy Now

An absolute must have for anyone with an interest in watching the birds.

Resources used to construct this page. 

Dunn, J.L. & Alderfer, J., Editors. 2006. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition. National Geographic Society.

Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.

Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
The Wood Duck, Eek! Critter Corner
Seattle Audubon Society
Wood Duck Fact Sheet,Department of Natural Resources, Maryland

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