The wood duck is one of the world's most beautiful birds. Wood ducks were shot in large numbers for their colorful feathers, which were used in hats and trout flies. They were also hunted for food. In 1918, Federal law placed the wood duck under protection.
Wood ducks have longer legs than most ducks.
They have a high pitched voice and a flat bill. The wood duck is 20 inches long, about half the size of a mallard. The male, or drake, is highly colored. His feathers are red, blue, purple, black and white. The female, or hen, is gray and brown with a some blue on her wings.