Birdsong field guide
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
A strikingly colorful perching duck characterized by its iridescent plumage and distinctively boxy crest. It is one of the few North American waterfowl species that nests in tree cavities.
What it sounds like
A thin, rising 'jeee' or 'oo-eek' whistle from the female; males produce a softer, thin 'pwee' or 'zip'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Drakes possess a unique, multi-colored pattern including a red eye, white neck flares, and an iridescent green head.
- They are equipped with strong claws on their webbed feet to grip bark and perch on tree branches.
- Day-old ducklings must jump from high nesting cavities—sometimes up to 50 feet—to the ground to follow their mother to water.
- The species nearly went extinct in the early 20th century due to habitat loss but recovered remarkably through the use of man-made nest boxes.
- They are primarily herbivores, consuming acorns, seeds, and aquatic plants, but will also eat insects and snails.
Habitat
Wooded swamps, flooded bottomland forests, and freshwater marshes with overhanging vegetation.
Range
Breeds across much of North America from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, with populations on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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