Aix sponsa
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae
Subfamily Anatinae
♂ Adult male.— Top of head metallic green, ending in a long crest of purple, interspersed with narrow white feathers; sides of head black; throat pure white, the white running up into side of the head and hind neck, almost separating the black side of the head into two areas; upper parts brown; when seen in good light the wings show velvety black, purple, and white; tail dark, long and fan-shaped; upper breast rich reddish-chestnut, with small white arrowy markings, white mark edged with black before the bend of the wing; flanks buffy-brown; rest of under parts white ; under tail-coverts dusky; bill dark; legs and feet brownish-yellow.
♀ Adult female.— Top of head blackish; sides of head grayish-brown; ring round eye and patch behind it white; rest of upper parts brown, the wings at close range as in male; throat pure white; breast brown, mottled with buff; belly white, with here and there a dusky spot; bill dark; legs and feet yellowish-brown.
Nest, in holes in trees, near water. Eggs, ivory-white.
The Wood Duck was formerly a common summer resident throughout New York and New England, breeding about quiet ponds and slow streams; but it has diminished rapidly of late, and can hardly be considered common anywhere, unless in the wilder portions of northern New England. It is an uncommon winter visitant on Long Island, but elsewhere in New England occurs chiefly as a migrant in March and April, and from August to November, or as a rare summer resident. It may be found on small inland ponds or wooded streams. The male is unmistakable; the long crest-feathers and the black and white sides of the head give him a characteristic look. The female has a slight crest, but may be best distinguished by the white eye-ring and stripe of white behind the eye.
Hoffmann – A Guide to the Birds of New England and Eastern New York (1904)