Imagine sleek lines of a tiny duck with a vibrant color scheme of iridescent feathers that is topped off with an incredible headdress that has to be seen to be believed! It would be blasphemous to try and describe such finery. I am referring to the striking morphology of two of the most beautiful drakes in the world – Aix galericulata (Mandarin Duck) and Aix sponsa (Wood Duck). They are the only two species in their genus. Enough said, form your own assemblage of adjectives as you view these photogenic creatures.
Mandarin Duck drake.
Wood Duck drake.
Wood Duck drake and hen.
Wood Duck hen.
Mandarin Duck drake.
These two species of duck have sharp claws to aid perching in trees, which is where they nest. They find a suitable nesting cavity or a large, abandoned woodpecker hole that can be quite some distance from water. When it is time to fledge the parents coax the ducklings to climb up to the opening where they then leap off and bounce onto the forest floor unharmed.
I recall in my youth finding a family racing out of the woods to reach sanctuary in the tranquil waters of a slow moving river.
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