Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Aves
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 3-5 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Crepuscular
- Social
- Pair
- Biome
- Freshwater wetland
- Range
- North America
- Movement
- Flight
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Camouflage
- Status
- Common
About
One of North America's most colorful waterfowl, the male Wood Duck sports an iridescent green-and-purple crest, red eyes, and bold white facial stripes. Unlike most ducks, it nests in tree cavities and its downy chicks leap unharmed from heights of 50 feet or more to reach the water below.
Life cycle
- 1.eggA clutch of eggs rests in a down-lined nest near water, covered and warmed by the brooding female.
- 2.hatchlingA downy hatchling follows its mother to the water within hours and feeds itself almost immediately.
- 3.juvenileA juvenile grows its first true feathers, swimming in the family group and learning to dabble or dive.
- 4.adultFully grown with adult plumage.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Aix
- Species
- Aix sponsa