wood duck

noun

: a showy American duck (Aix sponsa) which nests in tree cavities and the males of which have a large crest and iridescent plumage varied with green, purple, black, white, and chestnut

Illustration of wood duck

Examples of wood duck in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On a sweltering late-July afternoon, a mother wood duck and her seven ducklings tucked into a shady spot on the island in Bay View’s Humboldt Park Pond. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024

Crum’s explorations of blue catfish stomachs turned up all kinds of fish, from alewife to yellow perch, and even a wood duck. —Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Aug. 2024

The flip side Thanks so much to Joey and Dan for putting up wood duck houses on Lake Bell! —Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2024

Some species, including wood ducks, buffleheads and mergansers, will stay in the forested areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota to nest in tree cavities. —Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

wood duck

noun

: a showy American duck which nests in the hollowed-out spaces of trees and the male of which has a large crest on the head and feathers colored with green, black, purple, white, and brown