Nature Essays

The wood duck (Aix sponsa) is a pretty little bird with a distinct personality. Content to swim amongst other waterfowl in Lost Lagoon, the wood duck nonetheless enjoys asserting itself by taking the occasional nip at the nearest mallard or coot. During mating season, the male’s extreme mullet no doubt contributes to this tough guy attitude. His thin, reedy whistle of a quack betrays this bravado, sounding more like a tentative plea for attention, but only if it is not too much trouble!

I have been asked to identify this bird on several occasions, usually in the following manner:

“Excuse me, what type of duck is that?” asks the curious park visitor.

“It is a wood duck” I reply.

“Really, it looks so lifelike.”

I typically let a beat or two pass then reply “No, the name of that species is wood duck, not wooden duck. It isn’t a decoy.”

Wood ducks are so named as they typically nest in trees close to a shoreline. Wood ducks are easy to find on Lost Lagoon in late winter and spring, but are fairly uncommon to see in the other seasons. Unlike their mallard cousins, the wood duck is somewhat shy of close contact with people, but is happy to take handouts when left behind at a safe distance.

Wood ducks were nearly hunted to extinction by the end of the 19th century but are thriving today thanks to hunting bans and conservation laws.