Wood Duck

Description:

The Wood Duck is a medium-sized perching duck. A typical adult is from 47 to 54 cm (19 to 21 in) in length with a wingspan of between 66 to 73 cm (26 to 29 in). This is about three-quarters of the length of an adult Mallard. The adult male has distinctive multicoloured iridescent plumage and red eyes,with a distinctive white flare down the neck. The female, less colourful, has a white eye-ring and a whitish throat. Both adults have crested heads.

Habitat:

These wood ducks were perched on a downed tree in a constructed pond at Brick Pond Park in North Augusta, SC. Their breeding habitat is wooded swamps, shallow lakes, marshes or ponds, and creeks in eastern North America, the west coast of the United States and western Mexico. The birds are year-round residents in parts of its southern range, but the northern populations migrate south for the winter. They usually nest in cavities in trees close to water, although they will take advantage of nesting boxes in wetland locations if available.

Notes:

Another less common name is Carolina Duck. The male's call is a rising whistle, jeeeeee; the females utter a drawn-out, rising squeal, do weep do weep, when flushed, and a sharp cr-r-ek, cr-e-ek for an alarm call.