The male American Wood Duck has a long green/blue metallic crest. A white line extends from the beak, over the eye, and along the crest. There are also white markings along the base of the crest and the front of the throat. A red/brown breast, dark green/blue back and wings, white belly, red beak with black central stripe and tip with yellow at the base, and red eyes.
The female is much less colourful with a greyish brown plumage, dark-brown eyes, narrow yellow eye-ring with large white patch and stripe around the eye, whitish throat, and grey beak.
The male in eclipse plumage is similar to the female but has more white around the chin and lacks the female's white patch/stripe around the eye. The male can also be identified by having a red eye and reddish beak.
Typical Adult is about 48cm (19in).
Surface feeding on aquatic plants, vegetation, berries, seeds, and insects.
Wooded swamps, lakes, marshes in eastern North America, and the west coast of United States. Northern birds winter in southern USA and southern birds are non-migratory.
February to May.
7 to 15 (ivory white colour).
River Cottage's collection of Wood Ducks changes regularly. Please visit us regularly to keep up-to-date with our flock
Click the button above to add a pair of Carolina/American Wood Ducks to 'My Enquiries' which is available at the top of each page, and similar to a 'basket' on an ecommerce website!
Note: All birds are subject to availability and we reserve the right to alter prices as the market and our costs dictate. Viewing is strictly by appointment. Please contact us for futher details
