Most beautiful bird?

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Most beautiful bird?

December 23, 2014 by Mike Powell

What is the most beautiful bird that you can see in the wild in your area? We have lots of pretty birds here in Northern Virginia, but I could make a really strong case for the male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) as the most stunning bird.

Alas, wood ducks are also amazingly elusive and it is rare that I get a glimpse of one of them. Toward the end of November, however, I was thrilled when I caught sight of one in Holmes Run, a tributary stream of the Potomac River. I was on a bridge pretty high above the stream and the duck did not seem to sense my presence, so I was able to get some decent shots as he swam in and out of the light.

The water in which the duck was swimming looks amazing, with swirls and colors that complement the Wood Duck’s bright colors and striking patterns. I am not sure what caused the effect, but I really like it.

This was the only Wood Duck that I spotted all autumn, but it sure was worth waiting for. I’ll be keeping an eye out for these beauties as we move deeper into winter.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you.

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife | Tagged Aix sponsa, Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Holmes Run, Potomac River, Tamron 150-600mm telephoto, wood duck | 38 Comments

38 Responses

on December 23, 2014 at 7:31 am | Reply Boeta

Beautiful indeed, elusiveness adds to it. Most colourfull would be the sunbirds, but personally I love a raptor and more specific some owls can be stunning.
- on December 23, 2014 at 7:45 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m hoping to see some owls this winter–they are a real challenge to find and it’s even harder to get a good shot of one.
  - on December 23, 2014 at 7:51 am Boeta
    
    For sure, good luck.
on December 23, 2014 at 7:44 am | Reply Mjollnir

Very colourful duck. Similar to the Mandarin duck.
- on December 23, 2014 at 7:48 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I did a quick search and found out that indeed they are related. It was also interesting to find that they have been bred in Ireland, with concentrations in the parks of Dublin.
  - on December 23, 2014 at 7:52 am Mjollnir
    
    They’ve (Mandarins) been introduced to many places in Europe where they now from resident breeding populations and also I believe in California…
on December 23, 2014 at 8:03 am | Reply manonlesko

really beautiful
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:17 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. Merry Christmas.
  - on December 25, 2014 at 7:49 am manonlesko
    
    you too!have an amazing one
on December 23, 2014 at 9:03 am | Reply wingedprisms

My favorite duck. When we lived on water we had a female wood duck come into our yard. I named her Daphne. I got her to eat out of my hand! She stayed with us for months and then one day, a male showed up. He wooed her and she eventually left with him. He was majestic!
cate b
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:17 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  What a wonderful experience. Wood Ducks are always so skittish in my experience, but you showed that it is possible for them to get used to us. I love the happy ending to the story (at least for her). Merry Christmas.
on December 23, 2014 at 9:10 am | Reply PA Pict

That is a very good-looking duck.
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:16 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. Merry Christmas.
on December 23, 2014 at 9:58 am | Reply judysbirds

Very nice photo, Mike. I have yet to get a really good photo of a Wood Duck. They are just so skittish!
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:15 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Judy. The two times I have gotten decent shots of a Wood Duck were pure luck–I happened to be able to get relatively close to them only because I was on higher ground.
on December 23, 2014 at 10:04 am | Reply GarryRogers

Beautiful ducks that nest in trees. They used to nest here on Coldwater Farm, but they faded away and don’t nest here now. Maybe this year.
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:14 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It’s so unusual that these ducks nest in trees. Most often I am aware of their presence only when I hear them flying away as I approach a tree.
on December 23, 2014 at 10:59 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

It’s hard to say what the most beautiful bird is but this one has to be near the top of the list. The direction that light comes from can have quite an impact on what water looks like in a photo.
Have a Merry Christmas Mike!
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:13 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Allen. Merry Christmas.
on December 23, 2014 at 2:33 pm | Reply Dina

Gorgeous, Michael!
Our best wishes for a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
God jul!
Dina, Klausbernd, Siri & Selma
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:12 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dina. Merry Christmas to you and to yours and best wishes for a blessed new year.
on December 23, 2014 at 3:52 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

There are so many amazing things to see in this world…I am always stunned how many show up on the pages of your post.
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:11 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Charlie. It’s hard to explain, but I too am amazed at the beauty that I have been able to capture with my camera.
on December 23, 2014 at 4:52 pm | Reply Leanne Cole

That is a beautiful bird Mike, I love the colours.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and all the best for 2015.
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:10 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks so much, Leanne. This has been a wonderful year in so many ways. Have a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for a blessed new year.
on December 23, 2014 at 4:59 pm | Reply svtakeiteasy

Absolutely amazing looking bird and I love the marbling in the water, picking up the surrounding colours. Have a great Christmas, Mike.
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:09 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I was trying to think of a word to describe the water and “marbling” is perfect. Merry Christmas!
on December 23, 2014 at 7:50 pm | Reply orples

You little friend is a fine example of Nature’s wonder. Thank God for color.
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:09 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Amen. Merry Christmas to you and to yours.
  - on December 25, 2014 at 10:39 am orples
    
    Thank you, Mike. Merry Christmas to you and yours, as well. 🙂
on December 23, 2014 at 8:06 pm | Reply waltersanford

Good clarity and color, Mike, especially in the first photo!
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:08 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Walter. Merry Christmas.
on December 23, 2014 at 10:46 pm | Reply David

Excellent photos.
- on December 25, 2014 at 7:08 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, David. Merry Christmas.
on December 24, 2014 at 8:30 am | Reply gabbartrip

Wow! Great photos of a very beautiful bird! Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year!
- on December 25, 2014 at 6:27 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thank you very much. Merry Christmas to you and to yours.
on December 25, 2014 at 7:45 am | Reply Marie Keates

We don’t have as many colourful birds as you here in England. To me the most beautiful birds are the swans on my little river, closely followed by our fat little robins.
on January 5, 2015 at 10:17 am | Reply bkloflin

Mike, Good shots. Nice light and great reflections make the shot.