Wood duck
Woody, Squealer, Rainbow Teal
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Scientific Name:
Aix sponsa Aerial/Aboreal
Native
- Seasons and Regulations
- Licenses/Permits
Description
Often dubbed the most colorful duck in the United States. This duck is well known by most hunters and birders alike. Males have iridescent dark plumage, white throat, and facial markings. Ruddy/red breast, red eye, and pink/orange/white bill. The square tail is easily noticed in both males and females. Females have a brown overall appearance with a white eye ring that fades into a stripe towards the back. Iridescent blue and black on the secondaries and secondary coverts. Gray/yellow legs and feet.
Sound
In flight, or when flushed, females utter an "oo-eek"/ "cr-r-ek," and males have a thin, rising "jeeeeee." Vocal in groups or when in flight, they can also become very vocal when feeding.
Range and Habitat
Wood ducks are found throughout Southeastern Canada, parts of the Pacific Northwest, most of the eastern U.S., and some areas of central North America. Cavity nesters, these birds are most frequently found along wooded creeks, bayous, rivers, oxbows, and shallow flooded shrubs or timber. Can utilize freshwater marsh and agricultural fields at times. Unlike most waterfowl, wood ducks do not migrate only North and South, they've been found to move all directions at different times of year.
Behavior
Cavity nesters, these birds are most frequently found along wooded creeks, bayous, rivers, oxbows, and shallow flooded shrubs or timber. Can utilize freshwater marsh and agricultural fields at times. Very sociable, these birds often have communal roost locations on beaver ponds or scrub-shrub wetlands.
Population Status
Stable. Slightly increasing.
Hunting License Information
Basic hunting license or equivalent combination license (Sportsman Paradise). Waterfowl, HIP certification (18 years old and older). Federal Duck Stamp (16 years old and older) signed across the face, if hunting WMA then WMA Access Permit.
More Information