Maned Wood Duck:
Ranges across all of Australia.  Also known as the Australian wood duck or maned goose.  Very shy and wary, spending most of its time on land, resembling a small goose.  Females have a catlike meow call.

North American Wood Duck:
Primarily an eastern United States bird, where it really is a woodland dweller and can be encountered perching on stumps and tree branches.  Easily flies through the canopy of trees, preferring to fly through them instead of over them.  Can be seen in quite shady areas instead of open water like other ducks.  Old woodpecker nests are often used as nest sites along with man made nest boxes.  The same nest sites are often used year after year.

Mandarin:
An eastern Asia species but with a small feral population in Great Britain (300-400 pairs).  Females resemble female wood ducks and are very hard to differentiate.  Males are easily identified by the large orange sails on their back.  Nests in tree holes and duck boxes like the wood duck.

White-Winged Wood Duck:
Very limited range in south-eastern Asia.  Very endangered species with less than 200 pairs.  Loss of suitable habitat (dense rainforest) is the main reason for their low populations.  Similar to the Muscovy duck of South America.

White Mandarin:

White Wood Duck:

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Last modified: May 23, 2003