BIRD OF THE MONTH: Wood Duck 

By Nancy Howell, Board Member, WCAS 

Aix sponsa i​ s the scientific name of the Wood Duck, considered by many to be the most
beautiful duck in North America. So why start off with the scientific name, because it translates
into “waterbird dressed for the wedding”. How beautiful is that?

Truly, Wood Ducks are beautiful. Slightly smaller in size and slimmer in shape than a Mallard,
both male and female Wood Duck are ready for a wedding with plenty of color and lovely
patterns. Male Wood Ducks have iridescent purple-green heads with long, almost flowing
feathers extending down the back of the head. White markings and chin straps complete the
feather coloration, but what also jumps out is the bright red eye and even the skin around the
eye is red. The beak is colored in a pattern of red, white, yellow and black … have you ever
noticed? The bird’s back and wings appear black, but in the right light they shine an iridescent
blue-green. Males also sport a rust colored, spotted breast and flanks that are tan with the finest
of black lines. Some black and white accents can be seen near the breast, along the flanks, and
on the primary wing feathers. Female Wood Ducks are a beautiful brown-gray, with white
around the large, dark eye. She also has slightly longer feathers on the back of her head.
Iridescent wing feathers with some white decorations complete her outfit. Subtle beauty.

Wood Ducks are common nesters in northern Ohio, but this was not always the case. Market
hunting, wetland drainage and removal of forests all played a part in the collapse of Wood Duck
populations in the late 19th century. Fortunately, laws were passed to stop market hunting and
hunting during breeding season, wetlands were protected and restored, and forests, especially
trees with cavities were allowed to stand. But additional assistance was given to Wood Ducks.
Since they are cavity nesters, they readily will nest in man-made nest boxes. Whether
constructed out of wood, metal or other material, Wood Ducks took to these boxes, just as
Eastern Bluebirds accept bluebird boxes. Wood Duck nesting boxes may be seen at some of
the local county parks out in ponds and wet wooded areas.
Aptly named, Wood Ducks or Woodies, are ducks that like swampy forests as well as marshes.
They easily perch in trees and can even cling to the side of a tree, woodpecker-like, for a short
time due to long nails on their toes. Their slim bodies and long tails help them fly and maneuver
through stands of trees. As noted earlier, Wood Ducks nest in tree cavities, either broken
branch stubs, or holes made by large woodpeckers and squirrels, since the ducks themselves
cannot create their own nest cavity. These cavities may be 20 feet or higher from the ground,
not a problem as an adult duck, but what about the ducklings that hatch in that cavity? No doubt
you’ve seen nature shows showing a Wood Duck hen calling to her recently hatched ducklings
who peer out of the nest cavity …. then leap out of the cavity with tiny wings and feet spread
and landing either on the forest floor or in the water. The ducklings are so lightweight and the
spread wings and feet slow them down a bit so injuries are rare.

Wood Ducks, like most other dabbling ducks, are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of plant
leaves, roots, seeds, nuts, fruits and tubers, but will also consume aquatic and terrestrial
invertebrates, such as worms, snails and various larvae. As summer progresses, young birds
are growing but the adult birds begin to molt. All flight feathers are lost at the same time so
Wood Ducks seem to become scarce as they retreat to wetlands that provide cover since they
cannot fly. Male Wood Ducks lose their colorful plumage and molt into “eclipse plumage”, nearly
the same coloration as the females.

Fall is the season when Woodies, like many birds, begin their southward migration. Northeast
Ohio will have some Wood Ducks that remain throughout the winter … or are they birds that
have come from areas further north? Finding Woodies in the winter is not easy although area
Christmas Bird Counts will report a few birds. Throughout the winter in their southern haunts,
male Woodies again get their lovely plumage so in the early spring, as they begin to arrive in
breeding areas, they are handsome for the ladies to choose who will be her mate.

Keep an eye out for Wood Ducks, the ducks of summer … but you never know when a beautiful
pair will surprise you in the winter.

Copyright 2020 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

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Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org