Spring has arrived！A wood duck mom at the zoo takes her ducklings for a swim.

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

As spring blossoms and flowers bloom, it’s also the breeding season for birds. Recently, the American wood duck area in Taipei Zoo has experienced a “baby boom.” Visitors can see the wood duck mom swimming with her six ducklings in the pond. While “strolling” around, if other ducks come too close, the mother duck will quack as if scolding them to keep their distance — an adorable and endearing sight.

▲Taipei Zoo’s American wood duck mom and her ducklings. (Photo provided by Taipei Zoo)

The zoo stated that since American wood ducks nest in high tree cavities, zookeepers recently built several nest boxes. This successfully attracted two pairs of American wood ducks to nest and lay eggs. The newly hatched ducklings have to jump from nest boxes about five meters high. Currently, there is still one nest box in the zoo with eggs being incubated, and lucky visitors may get to see the wood duck mom leading her ducklings as they leap from the nest box.

The zoo pointed out that besides enjoying the wood duck mom and her babies, the duck dad is also quite a sight. Male American wood ducks have brightly colored and vibrant feathers, while the females are more subdued. Males are characterized by their red eyes and a white ring around their necks, making them one of the most beautiful bird species in North America.

▲Taipei Zoo’s American wood duck dad with his colorful and vibrant feathers. (Photo provided by Taipei Zoo)