What distinct feature characterizes the female Wood Duck's facial markings?
Answer
A distinct white teardrop patch around the eye
In contrast to the male's vibrant and complex coloration, the female Wood Duck displays much duller features, primarily a mottled grayish-brown body designed for camouflage while she is incubating eggs within a dark nest cavity. Her facial identification is marked by a specific feature: a distinct white patch shaped like a teardrop located around the eye area. This subdued coloration strategy ensures critical camouflage against potential predators during the vulnerable nesting period, highlighting the different selective pressures faced by males (visual signaling) and females (cryptic protection).
Related Questions
What does the scientific name *sponsa* for *Aix sponsa* likely refer to?What behavioral trait significantly sets Wood Ducks apart from many other *Anatinae* members?Which ground predators are avoided due to the elevated placement of Wood Duck nests?What does the Wood Duck Rule suggest about cavity-dependent species?Which specific features describe the elaborate plumage of the male Wood Duck?What distinct feature characterizes the female Wood Duck's facial markings?How does the wing architecture of the Wood Duck contrast with open-water ducks?What indicates availability of safe nesting sites is a limiting factor for Wood Ducks?To which tribe of ducks does the Wood Duck (*Aix sponsa*) belong?What conservation measure critically aided the Wood Duck's population rebound?