Sitting Pretty

by Scott Pellegrin

Title

Sitting Pretty

Artist

Scott Pellegrin

Medium

Photograph

Description

The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. In fact, their scientific name, Aix sponsa, loosely translates to “bridal duck,” as the species—the male, particularly—is so well appointed that it appears dressed for a wedding. Such striking good looks have long made Wood Ducks a favorite of birders and a source of inspiration for artists and wood carvers. 

These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches. Wood Ducks owe their common name to the fact that they are one of the few waterfowl species that perch and nest in trees. Sharp nails on their webbed feet allow them to balance on branches and maneuver into tree cavities that they use for nesting. 

In some regions, the Wood Duck is also known as a Swamp Duck due to its preference for bottomland hardwood forests and swampy or marshy habitats with old-growth trees. Another nickname for the species is Squealer Duck, a reference to the toy-like squeaks heard in both the male and female’s calls.  

The morning after hatching, ducklings take their first big plunge in life—through the air. Responding to calls from the mother duck, the chicks leap from nests as high as 50 feet above the ground or water. How do they survive? Downy feathers, pliable bones, and leaf litter provide the necessary cushion when not landing in water.

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January 12th, 2024

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