Wood Duck Habits

The drake Wood Duck is considered one of the most beautiful species of waterfowl in North America. In 1918 this bird was near extinction due to habitat loss and hunting. Fortunately, wildlife management has protected this species to the point that it is one of the most common ducks in the Eastern United States today.

In spring you can find several nesting cams of these birds on the internet. Check back as we sometimes have a friend who allows us to stream live from his nestbox cam. You can learn a lot about these birds during that time.

Description

The Wood Duck is 18 inches in length. The male has a colorful head with a white throat and a partial neck-ring and chinstrap. The large crest is green and the bill is multi colored. The eye is noticiably orange/red.

The female is brownish gray with a darker crown and a broad white eye-ring that tapers to a point in back.

Males plumage in eclipse is similar to female but retains some of the white facial markings.

Mating Habits

The mating/courtship habits of these birds take place through fall and winter on their wintering grounds. The pair are early migrants to their breeding territories often returning right after the spring thaw.

The female will repeatedly flick her bill back over her shoulder to which the male will respond by by raising his wings and tail, turning the back of his head to her and swimming away. She then follows him. Not an elaborate display but an interesting ritual.

Nesting Habits

Wood Duck House

Females will remember where they hatched and will bring the male to that same cavity. If the cavity is being use she will find another cavity close by. The females nest is made of wood chips and down. Located in a natural tree cavity or man-made birdhouse.

The nest is generally 5 to 50 feet above the ground or water. If successful broods are raised, these birds will often return to the same nest year after year to raise successive broods.

The female bird lays 10 - 15 dull white eggs. During egg laying the male will accompany the female to the nest site each day. Once incubation begins, the male involvment diminishes to being absent by hatching time. Inucbation is done by the female and last 27 to 30 days.

The young downy leave the nest soon after hatching. The young birds will need about 7 more weeks before learning to fly. During this time they follow and obey their mother for safety and finding food. If you have these birds around there is a good chance of attracting them to birdhouses.

Feeding Habits - What they Eat

These birds feed on aquatic plants, nuts, and fruit. Some of the plants they eat are, duck-weed, and wild rice. They also eat insects, small fish, and crusteaceans may also be eaten.

Molt

When females begin incubation the male abandons the female and clutch and flocks with other males. Moving to remote areas they begin the molting process and their feathers begin to look more drab and he begins to look more like the female.

The male loses his flight feathers all at the same time. This means they cannot fly and are at high risk of predation. By this time they are far away from the females and into as remote of a place they can get to so that they can complete their molt.

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