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Definition of wood duck
wood duck
Plural:wood ducks
wood duck Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A vividly colored perching duck native to North America, known for the male's iridescent green and purple crested head and its characteristic behavior of nesting in tree cavities.
Example
"Through their binoculars, the birdwatchers managed to spot a male wood duck perched gracefully on a branch overhanging the pond."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for wood duck• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its primary habitat in wooded swamps and bottomland forests, and its distinctive habit of nesting in tree cavities rather than on the ground.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wood duck. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wood duck