Protective Female Wood Duck and Her Duckling

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 waterfow. The wood duck is a medium-sized perching duck. A typical adult is from 47 to 54 cm 19 to 21 in or 1.5 feet max. In length with a wingspan of between 66 to 73 cm 26 to 29 in. The wood duck`s weight ranges from 454-862 g 16.0-30.4 oz.This is about three-quarters of the length of an adult mallard. It shares its genus with the Asian Mandarin duck Aix galericulata. The adult male has stunning multicolored iridescent plumage and red eyes, with a distinctive white flare down the neck. The female, less colorful, has a white eye-ring and a whitish throat. Both adults have crested heads. The male`s call is a rising whistle, jeeeeee; the females utter a drawn-out, rising squeal, do weep do weep, when flushed, and a sharp cr-r-ek, cr-e-ek for an alarm call.

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