The Life History of the Wood Duck

The Aix sponsa is a dabbler duck, which is defined as a waterfowl that does not dive into the water for its food, but rather pecks at the surface of the water to locate its food. Their feet are located more toward the center of their body, equipping them to walk well on land. Wood ducks experience a higher brood loss than any other waterfowl due to the habitat in which they live and breed. They are seasonally monogamous waterfowl during courtship. Wood ducks are the only North American duck that can perch in trees. Migration, which occurs at night in flock sizes of about 23 birds, begins in September and ends by November. They can stay in the area as late as December depending on the food available and the weather.
Photograph by USFWS

The diet of wood ducks is very diverse consisting of acorns (hence their nickname, the acorn duck, due to their fondness for acorns), pecans, corn, wild rice and celery, wheat, smartweeds, and millet.

For every stage of a wood duck's life, different habitats are necessary

Breeding requires a wetland or hardwood forest area.
Raising young needs a marsh or swampland.
Roosting is in forests, wetlands, swamps, or any region that offers cover and protection.
Molting requires a thickly wooded area, as protection for their inability to fly.
Migration demands riparian corridors or hardwood bottomlands.

Both drake (male) and hen (female) wood ducks share some similar features such as:

Length around 20 inches
Broad tail and wingspan, sacrifices speed for maneuverability
Acute senses of hearing aiding them in forested areas
Excellent peripheral vision due to the position of eyes
Largest eyes of any duck species in North America
Most nocturnal waterfowl
Best sense of smell than any other waterfowl in North America
Narrow tongue for aligning acorns down their throat
Short, narrow bills with a hooked end
Can outrun any other duck species on land
Long and more curved toenails, giving them a firm grip when perching in trees

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Photographs by Alan MacKeigan, USFWS

Drakes (male)

Uniquely decorated with various colors
Weighs about 1.5 pounds
White markings on body breaks up the shape helping camouflage them into landscape

Hens (female)

Dull brown coloration
Weighs about 1.4 lbs, slightly less than drake
Primary diet needs different during pre-laying and laying, invertebrates for protein

Nesting behavior

Use natural tree cavities and nesting boxes provided by humans
Average clutch is 12 eggs, with a possible 10 to 11 hatched eggs, after a 30-day incubation period
A nest containing 15-20 or more eggs is a sign of nest dumping - several factors can be the cause: response to nest predation, dense nesting, expanding populations, or competition for limited space
Ducklings leave nest site within 24 hours of hatching and become fledglings after 2 1/2 months

Four methods for searching for food

Pecking at surface objects on land and in the water
Tipping into the water to reach submerged food
Walking through forest to locate nuts
Diving in shallow water

Molting habits

Becomes flightless for four to six weeks
Seeks refuge with extensive cover and a rich food source
Prefers extensive emergent marshes or shrub swamps
After completed molt, gain migration feathers

Baby Photograph by Warren Greene, USFWS

Some of the dominant egg predators

Raccoon and Gray squirrel
Black rat snake
Flicker and red-bellied woodpecker

Main duckling predators

Red-shouldered hawk
Barred and great horned owls
Largemouth bass
Snapping turtles
Bullfrogs
Mink and great blue heron

Some adult predators

Raccoon
Fox
Great horned owl
Barred owl
Peregrine falcon
Goshawk

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Volunteer Opportunity: Invasinators08/01/2010 @ 11:00 am-1:00 pmBecome a part of the volunteer team of invasive plant removers and native plant restorers. Learn why non-native invasive plants are a threat to our ecosystem, how to identify problem plants, and removal and restoration strategies. Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves, and work gloves for field work in the Reserve each meeting date.
Canoe Trip: Up the Creek With a Paddle08/01/2010 @ 2:30 pm-5:00 pmAdventure up Otter Point Creek to seek the abundance of summer life in the estuary! We’ll go after grasses, sedges, and rushes and look for residents hiding among them. See how the estuary in summertime is the cool place to be…
Canoe Explorations Summer Nature Camp08/02/2010 @ 9:00 am-4:00 pmJourney on our waters as we discover the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed by canoe. Each day we will paddle a different location in the local area. Basic instruction will be provided the first day. Bring a lunch and water bottle each day (no glass).
Nature Tots & Kids08/02/2010 @ 9:00 am-10:00 amExplore and discover the natural world around us during the summer season through sensory activities, songs, movement and a short hike.
Nature's Playgroup: Session I08/04/2010 @ 9:00 am-10:00 amLittle ones and their parents play and learn in the natural world. Stories, songs, simple crafts and discovery outings will highlight each day's theme.

The Life History of the Wood Duck