Subject: Wood Duck, Aix sponsa, female scans the sky

Location: Stonecoal Wildlife Management Area, West Virginia

Stock Number: 5-7323

Comments: The white, teardrop-shaped spot around the eye is a key field characterisitic for identifying female Wood Ducks. This particular female is keeping a wary eye out for hawks.

Wood Ducks nest in hollow trees, they often perch in trees, and part of their diet is arboreal, including acorns and various other seeds. Rounding out their diet are grains, insects, and various water invertebrates.

Many wildlife refuges feature Wood Duck nesting boxes, to help make up for the shortage of hollow trees on well-managed timber tracts.