Wood Duck Aix sponsa (Linnaeus, 1758)    Synonyms: Acorn Duck, Summer Duck, WODU.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Anseriformes   >   Family Anatidae   >   Genus Aix   

Status:

Common migrant and nesting species. Rare in winter. Wood Ducks nest in tree cavities in wet woodlands and swampy areas throughout Maryland. Baby Wood Ducks begin their lives with a "leap of faith" from heights that may exceed 200 feet without injury.

There are 1,151 records in the project database.

View full eBird Range Map

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/18/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, all rights reserved. - Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist.

GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO 
A Wood Duck in Washington Co., Maryland (10/15/2019). Photo by Monica Pileggi. (MBP list)

A drake Wood Duck in Harford Co., Maryland (12/26/2014). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A male Wood Duck on the Choptank River in Cambridge, Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/25/2009). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

An adult male Wood Duck in Harford Co., Maryland (11/8/2013). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A Wood Duck in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/12/2016). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A Wood Duck in Howard Co., Maryland (8/8/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A male Wood Duck prospecting for nest cavities despite the snow in Harford Co., Maryland (3/4/2016). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Washington Co., Maryland (4/6/2015). Photo by Linda Lewis. (MBP list)

A nesting male Wood Duck along the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/16/2006). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A female Wood Duck in Howard Co., Maryland (3/7/2015). Photo by Howard Patterson. (MBP list)

A Wood Duck in Washington Co., Maryland (3/18/2015). Photo by Andrew Clemens. (MBP list)

A hen Wood Duck in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/19/2015). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

A Wood Duck in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/12/2016). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A nesting female Wood Duck along the C&O Canal in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/16/2006). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A hen Wood Duck with young in Talbot Co., Maryland (5/16/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A young Wood Duck in Howard Co., Maryland (8/8/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/7/2023). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A young Wood Duck in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/16/2008). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A hen Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/28/2015). Photo by Scott Young. (MBP list)

A female Wood Duck with crayfish in Howard Co., Maryland (8/21/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

Wood Ducks in Kent Co., Maryland (3/13/2017). Photo by Nancy Wyman. (MBP list)

A Wood Duck in Allegany Co., Maryland (9/19/2017). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/21/2021). (c) Holly J., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by hollyjaro via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/13/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Wood Ducks ducklings in Harford Co., Maryland (5/25/2014). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/26/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Ducks in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/7/2014). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Wood Duck eggs in a nest box in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (4/14/2021). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

A Wood Duck in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/2/2014). Photo by Dan Haas. (MBP list)

Wood Duck nest with eggs in Charles Co., Maryland (6/2/2023). (c) Tim Emhoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Emhoff via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/1/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (3/18/2020). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/7/2014). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/1/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Young Wood Ducks at Patuxent Research Refuge, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/18/2008). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/14/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/2/2019). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

A drake Wood Duck in flight in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/13/2011). Photo by Evelyn Ralston. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/30/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Ducks in Baltimore City, Maryland (3/25/2018). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A female Wood Duck in flight in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/19/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Wood Duck in flight in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/19/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/15/2023). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/10/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Wood Duck in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/30/2015). (c) tienglander, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by tienglander via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A hen Wood Duck prepares to nest in a nest box in Kent Co., Maryland (4/16/2015). Photo by Mike Hudson. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.