Wood Duck Photo Gallery
Male
Gorgeous duck with intricate plumage: green, crested head, chestnut breast and other bold markings.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 25, 2014Female
Warm brown plumage with grayer, slightly crested head. White teardrop around the eye; white also along the edge of dark blue "speculum" patch in the wings.
© Epi Shemming / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, February 02, 2017Male
Male is spectacularly colored, with a glossy green head, chestnut breast, buffy sides, reddish bill, and red eyes.
Wood Ducks have a unique shape among ducks—a boxy, crested head, a thin neck, and a long, broad tail. In flight, they hold their head up high, sometimes bobbing it. Overall, their silhouette shows a skinny neck, long body, thick tail, and short wings.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, March 26, 2020Not all videos have soundEclipse male
Grayish brown plumage with whiter throat, bright red eye, and red and white bill.
© Jake Dingel / Macaulay LibraryOhio, August 09, 2018Female
In flight the blue secondaries with a bold white stripe on the trailing edge are obvious.
© Larry Therrien / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 13, 2016Female and male
Found on shallow lakes and ponds, often swimming near the edges among emergent or overhanging vegetation.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryArkansas, March 18, 2005Not all videos have soundMale and female
Gray underwings of breeding males contrast with the rest of the plumage.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 23, 2019Immature
Immature is similar to female in coloration.
© Charlotte Farrell / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, July 24, 2019Male and female
Female lacks bright patterns of male, but has unique crested head shape and large white teardrop patch around eye.
© Tim Laman / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 17, 2009Not all videos have soundMale
Glossy green head with prominent crest at the rear, white throat, bright red eye, and red-and-white bill.
© Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, April 17, 2020Female and chick
Fluffy young are dark above with pale yellowish underparts and face.
© Gerry Hawkins / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, April 25, 2016Female
Often perches on tree limbs. Note white line at edge of blue "speculum" patch in the wing
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryArkansas, March 18, 2005Not all videos have soundMale and female
Nests in cavities, including artificial nest boxes.
© Janis Stone / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, March 21, 2016Female
Often perches on branches, sometimes far from water.
© Michael Warner / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, April 25, 2017Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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