Wood Duck

43-53 cm (17-21") Common. Wooded swamps, rivers, lakes, ponds. Nest in tree cavities or nest boxes.

Male: distinctive multicolored surface-feeding duck. Head is crested and patterned in green, white and purple; throat white with chin strap; breast brown; bold white vertical side stripe; buffy sides and belly; glossy brown back and wings; red eye and mostly reddish bill.

Female: dull brownish-gray surface-feeding duck with a bold white eye patch. Dark, short-crested, grayish-brown head with a distinctive teardrop-shaped patch around eye; brownish body.

In flight: large head with bill angled downward; long square tail. Rapid, agile flight between trees.

Song: high whistle, distinctive piercing "crrek, crrek" flight call .

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