Wood Ducks

Here are a couple of ducks out of water, Wood Ducks specifically. The duck on the right looks slightly larger and has a prominent white eye ring that I'd expect to see in a female Wood Duck. The one on the left is smaller, has generally similar coloring, but lacks the white eye ring, all suggesting that this is a juvenile. As juveniles, the males and females look similar, though if it's a male it'll eventually look like this guy.

July 27, 2021 at Washington Valley Reservoir
Photo 148653864, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

You might wonder if they were standing on the log to avoid the icky green water. Though it's difficult to know what the ducks were thinking, if the green was duckweed, it's actually on their menu; they're omnivores that eat vegetarian about 80% of the time. And these other Wood Ducks had no issues with the water.

July 27, 2021 at Washington Valley Reservoir
Photo 148653891, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)




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