Duck - North American Wood

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Carolina Duck, Swamp Duck, Woody, Squealer, Summer Duck Scientific Name: Aix sponsa

Basic Info

This duck is known for its beauty and stunning appearance. On the average, the duck is 17 to 20 inches in length. The head and crest of the duck are green and purple. The colorings have a metallic look to them. The throat and neck are white. From the eye to the bill is a white line, and it continues behind the eye and along the crest of the bird. The breast is chestnut and has white flecks in it. The lower part of the breast is white and so are the under parts of the duck. The mantle and wings are the same metallic green and blue, as the crest and head. This is how the drake (male) appears. However, the hen looks different. She is brownish and olive colored. She has white on her breast and around the eyes and bill. The bill is darker, also, on the female than the male. These ducks have adapted special claws that help them climb into the trees and perch, and their feet are still webbed for swimming. They are very fast fliers and the ducklings learn to fly after eight to ten weeks. The North American Wood Hen makes a squealing, high call and the male has a call that has been compared to the goldfinch.

Health

These ducks eat aquatic plants and animals, seeds, acorns, grains, and even some small fish. They are perching ducks, and require some form of trees, or nesting boxes. They also need a supply of fresh water. They are very fast fliers, so if you don't have an enclosed area, you will need to clip their wings. Breeding The North American Wood breeds from March to July. They nest typically in a tree. The trees can be really tall, sometimes as high as 65 feet off the ground, while some are two feet. For those breeding in captivity, you will need to build a nest box to simulate the tree. The box will have to be off the ground and should have a ladder or a ramp running to it. The boxes should be about two feet in depth, ten inches square and need an entrance hole of about four inches. In the nesting box, there needs to be nesting material, like sawdust, grass, dry leaves and the mother will add some feathers or other things to it. They lay about 15 eggs and they incubate in the box for about a month.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

The North American Wood Duck is a common duck, easy to care for and is perfect for the beginner to start with. With its charming beauty and behavior, it is a perfect choice for those who are starting to collect ducks. These ducks are also known as the Carolina Duck, Swamp Duck, Woody, Squealer and Summer Duck. The North American Wood Duck is a hardy duck that does great in limited space, is easy to care for and cheap. This makes the Wood Duck a perfect choice for beginners and for those who admire its beautiful colors. In the ducks natural habitat, it can be found in forests, lakes, ponds, inland streams, swamps and floodplains. They inhabit the Atlantic states, the Mississippi states and the central region of North America. In captivity, they prefer trees and ponds and while a larger one is better, it is not necessary. The caretakers have to provide the ducks with plenty of fresh, clean water, but size is not of huge importance. The North American Wood Duck is compatible with many other ducks and if the aviary is large enough, you can put other birds in there also. The duck is a gentle bird and has a docile manner.

Origin

North America

History

The Wood Ducks have been admired by the Native American culture for many years. The settlement of the Europeans led to the ducks near extinction. The Europeans hunted the ducks for their feathers and food. By the early 1900's, the North American Wood was almost extinct. Then came the conservation laws and programs and the duck is again abundant in 38 of the states and some providences of Canada. There are three different forms of the North American Duck. The Apricot Duck is a pastel, blondish color and the bill looks like a darker red. Then there is the White Wood, which is almost like an albino. The body is white and the markings are pink and it still has a bright red bill. The newest one is the Silver Wood Duck. It has the same basic look of the Wood Duck, but it has dark and light gray and silver coloring.

Common Foods

N/A