The Wood Duck

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Aix Sponsa or the Wood Duck is said to be one of the most beautiful breed of ducks in North America. Just is name, Aix Sponsa, means “The Water Bride.” Ever since the first American settlers arrived in the eastern shores of North America people have been mesmerized by the beauty of this colorful animal. But instead of just standing there and marveling at it they hunted and used the Wood Duck as means for survival. This made the Wood Duck one of the most popular games ducks in North America. And by the turn of the 19th Century it was on the brink of extinction. And from 1918 to 1941 a ban was put on hunting the Wood Duck which allowed its population to climb out of any worries of extinction. And today the Wood Duck still has a high population due to conservation and regulations placed on it.

The Wood Duck itself is an amazingly colorful breed of duck ranging in many colors. The amazing thing about this breed is that the males and females differ drastically from their appearance. The males are more brightly colored with a dark body with bright red all over. Whereas the female is more plainer with more gray and blue. You can always tell if it s female and more importantly a female Wood Duck by seeing a distinct white ring around the eyes. When both male and females are in full wing spread the outer parts show as if there is an aluminum coloring which only o...

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