Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Also known as: Carolina Wood Duck, North American Wood Duck
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
658 g
About This Species
Look for this cavity-nesting duck on wooded ponds, slow rivers and swamps, especially where old trees overhang the water. Males in breeding plumage are unmistakable with their iridescent green-and-purple head pattern and red eye; females are duller but share the white eye-ring. Spring is best for courtship displays, while family groups with ducklings are easiest to spot in early summer as they perch and swim close to shaded banks.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Watch from a distance with binoculars rather than approaching the water's edge, since flushing a female with young can separate ducklings from her care.
- In the United States this species and its nest are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, making it illegal to disturb, capture or collect eggs; similar protections for waterfowl exist in Canada.
- Staying on trails and avoiding nest boxes during the breeding season is the simplest way to reduce stress on the birds.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
4,827,147 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 658 g
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.