Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

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 .

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Credit: Ray Barlow

Credit: Greg Schneider

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

wood ducks

Credit: Martyn Stewart

2011-03-26 Wood duck with an attitude

Credit: h2otara

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Wood Duck (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

What colour was the SIDE ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:739-wood-duck-female:1:1 Source: 739 Wood Duck (Female), row 1

Wood Duck (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Green · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Green · Blue · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:738-wood-duck-male:1:1 Source: 738 Wood Duck (Male), row 1