Walking along Rock Creek in Washington, D.C. on my way to the National Zoo yesterday, I came upon some ducks in a area of the creek where the water was still. I knew that they were ducks, but when I zoomed in on them I was surprised. One of them was the most unusually colored duck that I have ever seen, with a strangely shaped head, brightly colored feathers, and red eyes.
Male wood duck in Rock Creek
I did some research and discovered that this is a male wood duck. If you had asked me yesterday about wood ducks, I would have thought you were talking about those hand-painted decoys.
I managed to get a shot of the male wood duck swimming along with a female wood duck. The photo is not quite as clear as the first one, but it shows the difference in coloration between the male and the female. The female is more delicately beautiful than the male, who is really ostentatious in appearance.
Female and male wood ducks in Rock Creek
I seem to have a knack in discovering brightly colored creatures, whether they be grasshoppers or duck. I hope my good fortune continues.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Aren’t you lucky! These silly ducks flee from me, and are difficult to photograph, always 200 yards away. Nice photos!
Thanks, Sue, and believe me it was luck. I was walking along a paved path that paralleled the creek and just happened to see the ducks,which stayed put for a fair amount of time until I did something to spook them. The water cooperated too, creating some really cool reflections.
Superb colors and tones!!! Cheers Nonoy Manga
Thanks. It’s hard to improve on what was already there.