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How to Identify Wood Ducklings

With a lack of brightly-colored or otherwise revealing adult feathers, identifying ducklings can prove to be quite a challenge. From afar, ducklings of many different species appear to look alike. Wood ducks feed on the water like the many dabbling duck species such as the mallard, one of the most common ducks in the U.S. Paying close attention to the color and markings of a wood duckling can reveal its identity as can knowing their habitat and habits.

Instructions

- 1
  Look for dark-brown back feathers and a light off-white breast, blending into a light-yellow face. The dark brown extends to the top of the head and forms a stripe from the back of the head to the eyes. Look for dark-brown feet and a dark bill.
- 2
  Notice if you find the wood duckling in a wooded area with swamps, ponds or small lakes nearby as this is the preferred habitat for wood ducks. Since wood ducks are perching ducks, look for nests in tree cavities.
- 3
  Look for newly hatched wood ducklings in the spring since the mating period is usually between February and April in the U.S. and the incubation period is approximately 30 days. If you see a newborn duckling between March and May, it might be a wood duckling. Wood ducklings start to fly at eight to 10 weeks, so a wood duckling would typically start flying from May to July. Identify wood ducklings by their white-speckled brown breasts, a white neck and a blue patch on the wing.
- 4
  Know the difference between wood ducklings and mallard ducklings. Mallards ducklings look similar to wood ducklings except that mallard ducklings are more yellow than wood ducklings and appear to have longer tails when compared with mallards. Wood ducks are also noticeably smaller than mallard ducks.

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