This is Bird Note.

Your eye may be drawn to the gorgeous male wood duck, but it's the call of the less

colorful female you'll hear.

She gives a loud, well in flight.

Her call tells the male where his mate is, and that's important as the pair stays together

through much of the winter and spring.

Though you're less likely to hear it, the male responds with this call.

In summer though, once the female is on the nest, the male deserts her.

Wood ducks are among a small number of North American waterfowl that nest in cavities

in fairly large trees located in forested wetlands.

They usually find a hole where a large branch is broken off and the heartwood is rotted

out.

However, wood ducks are adapting rather well to humans, and in winter they can be found

in many city parts where they accept handouts along with resident mallards.

The ability of wood ducks to modify their behavior and accept our presence boasts well for

their future.

Many are now nesting in large boxes we provide for them.

If you'd like to build a nest box for a wood duck, find plans on our website, or share

a photograph of one of these gorgeous ducks at birdnote.org.

I'm Mary McCann.