I just love it whenever I come across wildlife that is self-described by it’s common name! One such example is the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). I am fortunate to have this beautifully colored duck in my area from spring to late fall. When kayaking, I often see single wood ducks, or pairs of them, and I’m really blessed whenever I find a hen with a clutch of little “woodies” following her as they explore their new world! But today’s post gets back to their common name … Wood Duck. As their common name implies, they are found in watery areas that contain lots of trees. In fact, while kayaking I need to constantly check out the overhead trees as I paddle around, as often there is a pair of Wood Ducks perched in a dead tree:
Sometimes, a Wood Duck hen sits by herself:
Or, a Wood Duck drake, by himself:
What other birds can you think of that have self-described, common names? Right off the top of my head are Great Horned Owl, Roseatte Spoonbill, and Red-tailed Hawk. There are many more … how many can you think of?
Photographic Equipment Used:
- Canon 1D Mark 3 body
- Canon EF 100mm-400mm, f/4.5-f/5.6 IS lens, with Canon 1.4x TC, shot at 540mm (all photos)
- Handheld, with IS “On”, from a kayak
- ISO 200
- Aperture f/8
- Shutter 1/1600 sec. to 1/2000 sec.