Wood Ducks Take Flight

by Kathy Kelly

Title

Wood Ducks Take Flight

Artist

Kathy Kelly

Medium

Mixed Media - Digital Art

Description

Two handsome male Wood Ducks take flight. I photographed these birds at a lake just a few miles from my home in Maryland. Also known as the Carolina duck, the Wood Duck is a species of perching duck found in North America and is one of the most colorful North American waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather. The females lack the showy plumage of males but have a distinctive profile and a white tear drop pattern around the eye.

Wood Ducks are often found in wooded swamps, marshes, streams, beaver ponds, and small lakes. They stick to wet areas with trees or extensive cattails. As a cavity nester, Wood Ducks nest in holes in trees often 50 feet or more above the ground. Young ducklings remain in nest until the morning after hatching. Then they follow their mother out of the nest. Clinging with sharp claws and bracing with tails, the young ducklings climb to cavity entrance and then bravely jump to ground.

This work has been featured in the following FAA Groups and Contests:

USA Photographers Only
Paintography
Wonder of Wings
FAA Portraits - Birds
Ducks Geese and Swans
FAA Portraits - Birds

Uploaded

April 16th, 2020

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