The wood duck (Aix sponsa) is a colorful North American duck known for its striking plumage. The male wood duck in particular displays a variety of vibrant markings and patterns across its body. These markings serve important functions in mating and camouflage. In this article, we will explore the key features that identify the male wood duck and describe its unique and elaborate plumage in detail.
Head
The head of the male wood duck features a striking crest that runs from the back of the head down towards the nape. This crest can lie flat or be raised up, particularly during displays to attract females. The crest is iridescent purple and green, bordered by white lines along the sides.
Another distinguishing feature of the male wood duck’s head are its colorful facial markings. The face has a large white teardrop shape that runs from the base of the bill back below the eye. Above this teardrop is a glossy green band called the “bracer” that also arches above the eye. The area around the eye is chestnut brown. From the base of the bill to the chin is another white patch called the throat latch. Overall, the colorful head markings of the male wood duck give it a bold and decorative appearance.
Bill
The bill of the male wood duck is yellowish-orange with black markings near the tip. These dark markings are present throughout the year. The colorful bill matches the vivid hues present on the rest of the duck’s plumage. It is a thin and petite bill compared to other duck species, as wood ducks feed primarily on insects, seeds, and vegetation compared to diving for fish. Female wood ducks have bills that are similar in size and color.
Neck
The male wood duck has glossy iridescent plumage ringing its neck. This plumage is mostly purple, but shimmers with green in some lights. The area right below the head is more bronzy-chestnut in color before transitioning to the bright purple neck plumage. A thin white line borders the junction between the chestnut breast and iridescent neck.
Overall, the neck markings act as an extension of the vivid colors present on the duck’s head. When courting females, male wood ducks often raise their crests and puff out their neck feathers to better display these colorful features.
Chest and Breast
The chest and breast of the male wood duck are covered in stunning bronze-chestnut colored feathers. This area contrasts nicely with the brighter purple plumage on the neck above it and the gray belly below it.
When stretched and puffed out during courtship displays, the chestnut breast feathers take on a spiky, scaled appearance. The iridescent quality of these breast feathers can also produce purple, green, or blue hues in the right light. This section adds warmth and richness to the wood duck’s elegant plumage.
Wings
The wings provide some of the most ornate markings on the male wood duck. The front half of the inner wings consists of elongated black and white stripes and spots. The area just above the stripes, called the speculum, shimmers with iridescent blues, greens, blacks, and purples. This speculum flashes brightly during flight or when the wings are spread.
The back half of the inner wings features more white barring and stripes, while the outer wings are mostly a muted gray-brown. The secondary covert feathers along the leading edges of the wings are also boldly patterned with blacks and whites. Altogether, the intricate wing design of white stripes and bars against darker colors gives the male wood duck a very unique appearance in flight profile.
Belly and Flanks
Moving further down the body, the male wood duck has grayish-white feathers along its belly and flanks. This provides contrast from the darker chestnut breast above and the black undertail coverts below.
There is a single large black spot, called the flank stripe, on each side above the leg. This stripe resembles an eye and may serve to startle predators when the duck is flying. Together with the belly, these light gray undertail areas frame the wood duck’s richer chestnut and iridescent plumage quite elegantly.
Tail
The tail of the male wood duck is black with long undertail covert feathers. During flight, the black tail contrasts sharply with the duck’s colorful wings. At rest, the tail forms a dark background that makes the back and rump plumage stand out more boldly.
When courting females, male wood ducks will cock their tails up vertically to better show off the colorful feathers on their backs and rumps. The specialized tail feathers allow males to produce buzzing and whistling noises by vibrating their tails during courtship displays.
Legs and Feet
Male wood ducks have grayish-yellow legs and feet. Their toes are connected by webbing, which aids in swimming and paddling through the water. The legs are set farther back on the body compared to other duck species, giving wood ducks a distinctive upright posture on land.
Interestingly, the male wood duck’s legs fade to a dull grayish-brown color during the eclipse plumage period after breeding season. This eclipse period lasts until fall when males molt back into their bright breeding plumage again. The females retain duller gray-brown legs and feet throughout the year.
Eclipse Plumage
As mentioned above, male wood ducks lose their bright breeding plumage for a period of 2-3 months after mating season. Their new feathers during this time are known as eclipse plumage. Eclipse plumage offers camouflage and reduces visibility during the flightless molting period.
During eclipse, males resemble the more cryptic brownish-gray females, but still retain some traces of their breeding plumage colors. For instance, they hold onto their colored facial markings, some of their head crest feathers, and a few iridescent feathers throughout the body.
By late September, male wood ducks shed their dull eclipse plumage entirely and regrow colorful new feathers in preparation for the next breeding season. This ability to molt into drastically different seasonal plumages is unique to the male wood duck.
Female Markings
In comparison to the flamboyant male, female wood ducks have much subtler plumage adapted for camouflage. Their markings and patterns blend in with their woodland environment.
The head of the female wood duck is gray-brown with a darker crown and narrow white eye rings. The throat and chin area are lightly speckled. The breast and undersides are buff-colored with dark brown mottling that provides concealment among vegetation. The back and wings are mostly olive-brown and gray, but have some black barring and white spotting similar to the male. The tail is also brownish-gray.
Overall, the demure markings of the female wood duck provide an understated elegance complimentary to the male’s vivid plumage. Their shared patterns, such as the spots and bars on the wings, point to their pair bonding.
Conclusion
From its iridescent green head to its intricately patterned wings, the male wood duck displays a dazzling array of colors and markings. Its plumage features ornamental crests, eye-like patches, and striping that have evolved to attract mates and recognize other males. Even during eclipse periods, the male retains traces of its vibrant breeding appearance.
In comparison, female wood ducks exhibit natural camouflaging in muted brown, gray, and buff tones. Their shared wing patterns connect them to the more flamboyant males. Altogether, the wood duck’s ornate and adaptive plumage allows this beauty of waterfowl to thrive in its woodland habitats across North America.