| Wood Ducks |
| Call Ducks Silver Bantam Mandarins Greenwing Teal East Indies |
Wood duck,
Carolina duck
(Aix Sponsa)
The Wood duck is in the same genus or spieces class as the Mandarin duck. Like his male counterpart, the Wood duck drake is known for its colorful plummage during breeding season. The head is colored with a deep irridescent green and purple as is the long crest down the back of the head. Bright white patch in the throat area with two streaks of white extending into the face and
cheek
area. Eyes are red, bill is red with a small amount of yellow
at
the base of the bill where it connects to the head. The
breast is
a chestnut color turning all white as it extends under the belly, two
vertical stripes of white also extend just off the breast.
Back
and wings also carry the dark green, purple and blue plummage.
The female has grey/brown feathering and looks much like the
Mandarin female except the white around the eye is larger and extends
back farther on the female (duck) Wood duck.
Wood ducks are perching ducks making there nests in tree cavities or nest boxes provided in an aviary. They are typically found in wooded areas with swamps, ponds or smaller lakes. The mating period is usually between February and April depending on the area of the country, the female normally lays 9 to 12 eggs. The incubation period is around 30 days with the young climbing out of the nest usually within 24 hours of hatching. Nesting locations can be quite high but the young are rarely injured as they fall to the ground. The young begin to fly at 8 to 10 weeks of age.
Wood ducks are the second most hunted duck in the US, just behind the Mallard. "Woodies" are found in many waterfowl collections and can be easily obtained. Wood ducks are listed under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. You can purchase captive bred birds listed under the FWS from a breeder holding a valid Waterfowl Sale and Disposal Permit. That breeder should provide you with a completed Form 3-186 (Notice of Waterfowl Sale or Transfer) and have the bird marked according to Federal law. Your state or local government may have requirements also.
(Aix Sponsa)
The Wood duck is in the same genus or spieces class as the Mandarin duck. Like his male counterpart, the Wood duck drake is known for its colorful plummage during breeding season. The head is colored with a deep irridescent green and purple as is the long crest down the back of the head. Bright white patch in the throat area with two streaks of white extending into the face and
cheek
area. Eyes are red, bill is red with a small amount of yellow
at
the base of the bill where it connects to the head. The
breast is
a chestnut color turning all white as it extends under the belly, two
vertical stripes of white also extend just off the breast.
Back
and wings also carry the dark green, purple and blue plummage.
The female has grey/brown feathering and looks much like the
Mandarin female except the white around the eye is larger and extends
back farther on the female (duck) Wood duck.Wood ducks are perching ducks making there nests in tree cavities or nest boxes provided in an aviary. They are typically found in wooded areas with swamps, ponds or smaller lakes. The mating period is usually between February and April depending on the area of the country, the female normally lays 9 to 12 eggs. The incubation period is around 30 days with the young climbing out of the nest usually within 24 hours of hatching. Nesting locations can be quite high but the young are rarely injured as they fall to the ground. The young begin to fly at 8 to 10 weeks of age.
Wood ducks are the second most hunted duck in the US, just behind the Mallard. "Woodies" are found in many waterfowl collections and can be easily obtained. Wood ducks are listed under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. You can purchase captive bred birds listed under the FWS from a breeder holding a valid Waterfowl Sale and Disposal Permit. That breeder should provide you with a completed Form 3-186 (Notice of Waterfowl Sale or Transfer) and have the bird marked according to Federal law. Your state or local government may have requirements also.
| For 2007 I have installed some cameras in a few of the nest boxes, the information along with photos can be found in the nest box photo blog section. |
| Nest box descriptions can be found in the Pens page 2 section, additional photos can also be found in the Photo Gallery. |
| Two week old Wood ducklings with mom. Wood ducks have high fertility/hatch rates and poduce more ducklings than other ducks but they also have a high mortality rate in the first few weeks of life. |
| Same Wood ducklings at eight weeks and beginning to fly. |
| Wood drake | Three week old Wood duckling |
| Wood duck family......father is the one in the rear center, mother is the one on the front right side of the photo. All the others are the offspring and are 5 months, 2 days old and have yet to get all their feather coloring. |
Go to:
Wood ducks page 2
Home | Waterfowl | Pens | Pens Page 2 | Raised Pens | Cold Frame Aviary | Brooders | For Sale | Feedback
Wood ducks page 2
Home | Waterfowl | Pens | Pens Page 2 | Raised Pens | Cold Frame Aviary | Brooders | For Sale | Feedback