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Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
45.0024, -93.1246
Field Notes
Description:
Wood ducks are fairly small ducks. The males--shown in the first and third photos--are arguably the most handsome of the North American waterfowl. He has a reddish brown breast, green head with white throat, neck and chinstrap markings. The crest is green and outlined in white, eyes are brilliant red, and bill reddish tipped with black. Sides are burnished bronze, wings dark. Both males and females have a crest although it typically lays down the neck. Females are more cryptically colored with large white eye rings.
Habitat:
Wetlands and wooded floodplains. Wood ducks have strong, sharp claws and they often land in trees. Nest sites are in tree cavities and specially designed nest boxes.
Notes:
These ducks are checking out a nest box I built several years ago and placed about 6 meters up in a silver maple tree outside our living room window. Last year we had our first set of wood duck nestlings hatch out of the box. It would be fun to see that again this year.
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