Most female birds are less colorful than their male counterparts, but still very beautiful. This female Wood Duck was one of four that visited our neighbor’s pond where Ted has been photographing from his blind a few days each week. The ducks usually arrive around 5:30am and stay for a few hours. During this time, the female(s) who are laying eggs will enter the nest box and emerge about 30 minutes later. When all of the eggs have been laid, the female will begin a month-long incubation, leaving for short periods each day to eat.

Click on the image to see a larger photo. ©2015 Ted Thousand