The beauty of wood ducks

May 16, 2022

A wood duck near Ottawa (photo: Alexander Verbeek)

I was fortunate to come across some magnificent wood ducks near Ottawa. Except for the Mandarin Duck of eastern Asia, it is a unique species in the world with no near relatives. The breeding male's distinctive head is iridescent green and white with red eyes, a red and white bill, a chestnut breast, golden flanks, and an iridescent back.

Wood ducks were previously common in eastern North America, but their numbers plummeted in the late 1800s due to hunting and the loss of nesting habitat in wooded ponds, slow-moving rivers, and swamps. I discovered these drakes (as you call male ducks) in ideal conditions, where large trees overhang the river and provide shade.

The woodland duck is widely regarded as the most attractive of North American ducks, and its beauty may have made it a target for hunters but also helped conserve the species. In the early 20th century, the species was thought to be threatened with extinction. The loss of nest places due to significant tree cutting and hunting pressure was likely the leading cause of its decline. However, early wildlife management efforts focusing on this iconic bird were fruitful; legal protection and the provision of tens of thousands of nest boxes aided its comeback. As a result, there are likely over a million wood ducks in North America now.

Colorful wood ducks (photo: Alexander Verbeek)

The male ducks are as colorful as the uniforms of proud generals in long-forgotten times. In both cases, the males like showing off their best bright plumage to attract the females. Their vivid colors got drakes and generals killed in both situations. The ducks were shot at by hunters in the 19th century, while the colorful generals died out during the first World War when they permanently changed their attire for camouflage colors. Some over-decorated generals survived longer in their bright colors and feathers in remote autocracies.

The wood duck produces only one brood per year in the north, but she regularly has two broods in a single breeding season in the south, making it the only North American bird to do so. An interesting aspect is that female wood birds frequently lay their eggs in each other's nests and occasionally in "dump nests" where no incubation occurs.

Because they perch and nest in trees, they are called wood ducks. That explains why they have sharp claws for holding on to trees, unlike most ducks. They usually build their nests close to or even over water. Wood ducks will, however, sometimes nest as far as a mile from water, but never too far. Nesting on trees is challenging when the ducklings hatch, but nature has provided a clever solution. They can use a particular tooth on their beak to climb down 8 feet or more to get out of the tree-nest they were born in. They can also swim and find food on their own once they're in the water for the very first time.

Soon, I will start 20 weeks of traveling; I will only be back in Ottawa by late September. And of course, I will continue to share my writing and photos, and my posts will often be about what I saw and experienced.

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