The wood duck (Aix sponsa) or Carolina duck is a species of perching duck found in North America. They are one of the most colourful North American waterfowl. They are uniquely equipped to fly through a tangle of branches to reach their nest site in a tree cavity. They have the largest eye of any duck, a broad wing for manoeuvering, aided by a tail that is long and wide. Their legs are near the centre of their body making them agile on the ground when searching for acorns on a forest floor. Woodies are classified as perching ducks; highly developed toes and claws allow them to grasp and perch on tree branches. Male wood ducks have a crested head that is iridescent green and purple with a white stripe leading from the eye to the end of the crest, females have a grey-brown head and neck with a brownish, green, glossed crest. A white teardrop shaped patch surrounds the brownish-black eye.
See also: Australian wood duck
