If you're a birder, you'll know what a life list is. It's basically a list of all the bird species one has observed and positively ID'd in one's lifetime. This blog is a record of my "critter" life list (mostly of birds), including photos I've taken over the years, some of the actual lifer if I was lucky enough to get the shot. Don't expect National Geographic quality stuff here, just the work of an amateur photog who loves to trudge out into nature.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

5/25/02 Male & female, Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia, CA
5/25/02 LA County Arboretum

7/27/02 Male in eclipse plumage; LA County Arboretum

5/25/02 Female; LA County Arboretum
10/5/02 Female; LA County Arboretum
7/27/02 Male in eclipse plumage; LA County Arboretum

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Wood Duck

SPECIES: Aix sponsa

FAMILY: Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)

LIFE LIST DATE: 2/2/2002

LOCATION: Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia, CA

From Kaufman Focus Guide: Birds of North America:

BEHAVIOR/HABITAT: A beautiful duck of wooded swamps, shady ponds, quiet rivers. Common in parts of the east and northwest, uncommon elsewhere. May perch high in trees. Wood ducks frequently use nest boxes put up for them. 

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 18"; colorful adult male unmistakeable for most of year. Female has hint of crest, dark back, white eye patch on gray head. Male in eclipse plumage resembles female, with more distinct white throat.

VOICE: Shrill, hoarse, oowheak! on taking flight (female), thin deejay (male).
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