Critters of North Idaho: Wood Duck

If there’s an Idahoan bird that’s going to take the prize as fanciest waterfowl, ducks probably aren’t going to be at the top of your list. Nevertheless, the wood duck just might change your mind. The male variant of this species is endowed with striking iridescent plumage including a green crested head, white flares down the neck, and a patchwork of light and dark coloration. But the wood duck has a lot more than pretty looks up its sleeve … or wing. Let’s dive into the hidden lives of these enigmatic birds.

We’ve already looked at the brilliant colors of the male wood duck (Aix sponsa), but what about the female? As with many birds, these fowls are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females are different in their size and appearance. The plumage of a female wood duck is varying shades of brown, though they do have a distinctive dark blue patch on their wings. They are also a tad smaller than the males, though both are roughly the same size: 19 to 21 inches in length, 16 to 30 ounces in weight, and a wingspan is 26-29 inches. When they fancy each other, a male and female pair of wood ducks will partake in a special wing-and-tail flashing display and engage in cleaning and straightening each other’s feathers with their bills.

Wood ducks belong to an unusual group of birds called … wait for it … perching ducks! These birds are not all directly related to each other, but they are united in their unusual habit of spending considerable time in trees.

You might think a duck with webbed feet would have great difficulty in trees, but the wood ducks get by thanks to sharp claws on their feet. Not only do they roost in trees, but they also nest in them; or more specifically, in tree cavities. This keeps them well out of harm’s way from most predators. A female wood duck lays between six and fifteen eggs, which she incubates for a whole month. The ducklings are alert and able to walk within 24 hours of hatching. But there’s one problem: the mother laid her brood in a tree, and the ducklings can’t fly. This means they must jump, sometimes falling over 50 feet to the ground.

Amazingly, the fluffy, little ducklings are not hurt by the fall. They continue to live with their mother for around two months before going off on their own.

Wood ducks are not picky about where they live, but as their name suggests they like woodland areas near ponds, rivers, creeks and lakes. So don’t be surprised if you come across these birds if exploring in habitats like these. Another unexpected thing about these ducks is that they actually don’t quack. Instead, they make a variety of whistling or squealing sounds. If you’d like to hear them for yourself, please visit the following website: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/sounds

• • • 

animaladventures1314@gmail.com