Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

Nesting and Brood Rearing Habitats may be distributed over a COMPARTMENT and Migrating Habitat Requirements may be distributed over the NEIGHBORHOOD

Nesting Habitat:
      (Any Lowland Deciduous (Lg Saw or Uneven)) 
      or ((Mixed Lowland Hardwoods (Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      (Snags or Living Cavity Tree or Man-made Structure)
   adjacent to:
      (Lake or Pond or River)

Brood Rearing Habitat:
      (Lake or Pond or River)
   adjacent to:
      (Any Emergent Wetland or Lowland Brush)

Migration Habitat 1st alternative:
      (Lake or Pond or River)
   neighboring:
      (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Mast
 
Migration Habitat 2nd alterative:
      (Lake or Pond or River)
   neighboring:
      Row Crops
      or Small Grains/Forage Crops

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Breeding Wood Ducks are found on creeks, rivers, floodplain lakes, swamps, and beaver ponds. Optimal areas are usually bottomland hardwood forests with mature trees that contain nest cavities within one mile of water areas that meet food and cover requirements. The secretive breeding pairs utilize cover provided by trees or shrubs overhanging water, flooded woody vegetation, or a combination of these types. Females meet their high protein and calcium requirements in the spring by feeding on aquatic invertebrates.

Cavities in trees or nest boxes over or near water are preferred nest sites. Large, long-lived deciduous trees with a minimum dbh of 14 to 16 inches provide the best nest cavities. Most nest cavities are at least 2 m above the ground.

Wood Duck broods utilize flooded cover dominated by woody and herbaceous emergent plants well interspersed with small, open water areas.

Habitat: Breeding: Shallow waters of ponds, lakes, or marshes having abundant floating and emergent vegetation. Wooded swamps or open flooded lowland forests where food is available. Shuns salt water.

Special Habitat Requirements: Trees at least 16 inches dbh with large cavities for nesting (minimum entrance hole is 4 inches in diameter).

Habitat: Wooded swamps, rivers, ponds. Favors shallow inland lakes, ponds, slow-moving rivers, swamps, mainly those surrounded by deciduous or mixed woodland. Often in places where large trees overhang the water, creating shady conditions. Also in open marshes within generally forested country.

Diet: Mostly seeds. Feeds on aquatic plants and their seeds, fallen seeds of trees and shrubs, also insects and crustaceans. Acorns are a major part of diet in many areas. Also comes to fields to feed on waste grain. Young feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Nest: Sites are in large tree cavities near water, up to 65 feet above ground. Cavity lined with down. Rarely nests in hollow fallen logs, barn lofts, crevices in rocks. Uses artificial nest boxes, even when these are placed low and in open marsh.