Wood Duck in Motion — Action Shots from Oaks Bottom

Wood Ducks are one of the most stunning waterfowl in North America — the males practically glow with iridescent greens, purples, and chestnut browns. When one stretches its wings, all of that color comes out at once.

Wings Spread — The Shot That Went Viral

Caught this male Wood Duck mid-wing-flap during one of his exercises — wings fully spread, showing every shade of iridescent color the species has to offer. The timing has to be exactly right. Wing flaps last maybe half a second and you usually only get one chance per bird per session.

This one hit Nextdoor hard — tens of thousands of views, hundreds of reactions, over a hundred comments. Wood Ducks tend to do that to people, especially when you catch them showing off like this.

Caught Mid-Shake — Burst Mode, High Shutter Speed

This one took patience and a fast shutter. Wood Ducks bathe vigorously — diving, splashing, then shaking it all off in a fraction of a second. Burst mode is the only way to catch that exact moment when the water droplets freeze in the air around them.

You never know what you are going to get when you point a camera at a Wood Duck. Sometimes you get the explosive wing stretch. Sometimes you get the chaos of a bath in progress. Both are worth waiting for.

Shot on Fuji X-H2 — Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Portland, Oregon