Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
One-day-old ducklings must jump from nesting cavities up to 50 feet high to reach the ground, bouncing unharmed before following their mother to water.
- Scientific name
- Aix sponsa
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Aix
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Wooded swamps, marshes, beaver ponds, and lakes with overhanging trees.
- Diet
- Omnivorous: acorns, seeds, fruits, and aquatic insects or small crustaceans.
- Range
- North America, Southern Canada, United States, Mexico
- Size
- 19-21 inches long with a 26-29 inch wingspan.
- Lifespan
- 3-4 years on average, up to 15 years.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Loss of wetland habitat and old-growth trees with nesting cavities.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Wood Ducks are shy and will fly away if approached. Maintain a distance of at least 30 feet to observe their natural behavior. No risk of biting or stinging; simply enjoy their plumage from afar.
The wood duck or Carolina duck ( Aix sponsa ) is a species of perching duck found in North America. The drake wood duck is one of the most colorful North American waterfowl.
Photo: Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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