Wood ducks once again flourish in the U.S.

Wood ducks are one of the most well-recognised and celebrated species of waterfowl in the U.S. Once threatened with extinction, they are now abundant in the country thanks to concerted conservation efforts over the years.

 

A Female WOOD DUCK with ducklings.

These birds look like they are whispering to each other.

A male wood duck, easily recognisable by the iridescent green feathers of its head and brightly patterned body.

A female wood duck; the females are not as brightly coloured as the males.

A juvenile wood duck.

A family outing.

These birds were once killed for their meat and feathers.

After a swim, this male is looking to take off.

The enactment of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the U.S. in 1918 paved the way for the way for the protection of these and other birds in the country.

A wood duck pair.

A male putting on a display of its colourful feathers.

A male stretching.

A male vocalising.

A male preening.

In 1934, the Migratory Birds Hunting Stamp Act came into force in the U.S.; it enables the government to raise funds for environmental protection by selling stamps. The sale of duck stamps has raised a lot of money for conservation over the years.

Vineeth Radhakrishnan.

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Wood ducks are widely distributed in the U.S. The ones featured here were photographed in four locations in Texas, U.S.