Wood Duck

waterfowl · colorful · North America · nesting

Brilliantly colorful males. Male wood ducks are like swimming jewels with iridescent green heads, chestnut breasts, and striking patterns in white, black, and gold. The females are much more muted in color, which helps them stay hidden while nesting.

Trees, not water. Unlike most ducks that nest on the ground or in marshes, wood ducks lay their eggs in holes high up in tree trunks. They use old woodpecker holes or nest boxes that people install to help them.

Fluffy tree jumpers. When ducklings hatch in a tree nest, they're ready to jump down to the ground or water within a day, even though they're just tiny balls of fluff. Their mother leads them to water where they'll learn to find food.

Travel between homes. Wood ducks are partially migratory, meaning some groups fly south for winter while others stay in the same area all year round, depending on how cold it gets.

Acorn lovers. Wood ducks gobble up acorns and other seeds from trees, along with aquatic plants and small insects, making them different from many other ducks that dabble in shallow water.