[Length 18.5 in. Wingspan 30 in.]

This male Wood Duck in flight was photographed at Cheyenne Bottoms WMA, Great Bend, Kansas. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: March 15, 2010)

[Length 18.5 in. Wingspan 30 in.]

The male Wood Duck is perhaps the most beautifully colored of all of North America's waterfowl. It is called the "Wood" Duck because it is almost always found on water near or in "the woods". The female builds her nest in the cavity of a tree, often more than 20 feet above the ground. When the ducklings leave the nest, they simply step out of the nest cavity opening and fall to the ground. Their fluffy down feathers and a soft layer of leaves on the ground allow them to "bounce" a few times before they follow their mother through the forest to the nearest stream or pond. This male was photographed at a small lake in southeastern New York in a small, unfrozen portion of the lake kept open by a wintering flock of Canada Geese and Mallards. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: February 1981)

[Length 8.5 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This Dunlin was photographed at the Boca Chica beach, TX. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: May 4, 2009)

[Length 8.5 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This Dunlin was photographed at Loch of Funzie RSPB Reserve, Funzie, Fetlar, Shetland, Scotland, Great Britain. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S f4 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: June 7, 2004)

[Length 8.5 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

It is easy to see why this bird was once called the "Red-backed" Sandpiper. This Dunlin, in full breeding plumage, was photographed at the edge of the famous Gambell "boneyards" on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1989)

[Length 8.5 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This winter plumaged Dunlin was photographed along the docks at Nemuro, Hokkaido, Japan. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1996)

[Length 8.5 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This winter plumaged Dunlin taking flight was photographed along the central New Jersey coast in winter. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Ektachrome 200 film pushed to 800. (Date: October 1978)

[Length 8.5 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This winter plumaged Dunlin taking flight was photographed along the central New Jersey coast in winter. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Ektachrome 200 film pushed to 800. (Date: October 1978)