Wood Duck

Here's probably New Jersey's most flamboyant waterfowl, the Wood Duck. Perhaps the only more flamboyant waterfowl are the Mandarin Ducks, who aren't found in North America and are actually related to the Wood Ducks.

Apparently there were fears in the 20th century that these ducks might be driven extinct primarily due to loss of habitat and hunting, though hunting limits and conservation efforts have helped them rebound. Though not as abundant as Mallards, spotting Wood Ducks isn't uncommon.

Although maps suggest I'm very close to the line where Wood Ducks are around the entire year, I don't typically see them in winter. This time of the year though they can be spotted fairly frequently, and often in pairs since it's basically their breeding season.

March 31, 2021 at Duke Farms


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