All waterfowl, the Wood Duck reigns supreme! The males have ornate patterns on nearly every feather and are iridescent chestnut and green. The females are equally distinct with their unique profile and white patterns around the eyes. Their habitat is primarily wooded swamps with nesting in naturally occurring holes in trees. When these nesting locations are scarce, man-made nesting boxes installed around lake margins can aid in additional nesting habitat. The females have been known to lay their eggs in other nests should the nesting habitat be too congested. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year. These ducks pair up in January and arrive at their breeding grounds in spring. Once their brood is hatched and capable of leaving the nest, the ducklings are coaxed to the water by their mother. Once they’re in the habitat, the ducklings are not assisted by their mother to forage for sustenance. The Wood Duck is a long-lived waterfowl with the oldest recorded male over 22 years, being banded in Oregon and found in California.
