Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, British Columbia, January 2001
400mm 1/125sec f/5.6

This article and photograph originally appeared in the Summer 2001 issue of Marshnotes^®, published by the British Columbia Waterfowl Society, Delta, BC.

The Wood Duck drake is arguably the most colorful and ornate duck in North America. Even the female of this species has more elaborate plumage than many other North American female ducks. This beauty was almost its undoing in the late 1800’s when it was nearly hunted to extinction for both its flesh and feathers. In 1918 concern over the declining population resulted in a complete ban on hunting Wood Ducks in Canada and the US. Since 1941 progressively more hunting has been permitted as the population has recovered. Thanks to hunting regulations and a widespread effort to establish and maintain nesting boxes, these unique ducks are now abundant once again.

North America’s only representative of the perching ducks, Wood Ducks have sharp claws, visible in the photograph above, that allow them to perch and climb in trees. These claws are found even on newly hatched young and allow them to climb out of the tree cavities or nest boxes which are the preferred nest sites. Wood Ducks nest near water and sometimes use cavities excavated by the larger woodpeckers such as the Pileated Woodpecker or Flicker.

It is difficult to imagine how a duck could enter woodpecker cavities since they are usually excavated in the sides of tree trunks with no branch or ledge nearby to allow a landing. I have read reports of female wood ducks flying directly into woodpecker holes without first perching on anything. I have also read and seen a photograph of a female wood duck perched on the side of a tree, just like a woodpecker, clinging with her claws and using her long tail as a brace.

Wood ducks are fairly common at the Sanctuary all year and can usually be found in the vicinity of the three wooded freshwater sloughs. The crested iridescent head with bold white stripes of the male and the white tear-drop around the eye of the female help make both sexes of this duck difficult to confuse with any other species. In flight the long square tail and downward sloping bill are also distinctive.

The Wood Duck feeds on vegetation, fruits, seeds, and acorns. During the nesting season, the female has been reported to actively pursue small animals such as insects and amphibians including adult frogs! It is thought this predatory behavior is necessary for the added protein required for their prolific egg production. Observing these feeding behaviors may be difficult because Wood Ducks are often more active at night, but you can often observe them sleeping, bathing, and preening during the daylight hours at the Sanctuary.

- text © David Blevins