![]() ![]() ![]() By enforcing existing hunting regulations and protecting woodland and marsh habitat, wood duck populations began to rebound starting in the 1920s. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, wood ducks finally began to repopulate. In response to the Migratory Bird Treaty, established in 1916, and enactment of the U.S. By the beginning of the 20th century, wood ducks had become rare, almost disappearing in many areas. The population of the wood duck was in serious decline in the late 19th century as a result of severe habitat loss and market hunting for both meat and plumage for the ladies' hat market in Europe. There is a small feral population in Dublin. Given its native distribution, the species is also a potential natural vagrant to Western Europe and there have been records in areas such as Cornwall, Scotland and the Isles of Scilly, which some observers consider may relate to wild birds however, given the wood duck's popularity in captivity, it would be extremely difficult to prove their provenance. ![]() Along with the mandarin duck, the wood duck is considered an invasive species in England and Wales, and it is illegal to release them into the wild. ![]() Due to their attractive plumage, they are also popular in waterfowl collections and as such are frequently recorded in Great Britain as escapees-populations have become temporarily established in Surrey in the past, but are not considered to be self-sustaining in the fashion of the closely related mandarin duck. 75% of the wood ducks in the Pacific Flyway are non-migratory. They overwinter in the southern United States near the Atlantic Coast. The birds are year-round residents in parts of its southern range, but the northern populations migrate south for the winter. They are able to crush acorns after swallowing them within their gizzard. They mainly eat berries, acorns, and seeds, but also insects, making them omnivores. Wood ducks feed by dabbling (feeding from the surface rather than diving underwater) or grazing on land. The ducklings can swim and find their own food by this time. The day after they hatch, the young climb to the nest entrance and jump to the ground. They prefer nesting over water so the young have a soft landing, but will nest up to 140 m (460 ft) away from the shoreline. The mother calls them to her, but does not help them in any way. : 7Īfter hatching, the precocial ducklings climb to the opening of the nest cavity, jump down from the nest tree and make their way to water. However, if nesting boxes are placed too close together, females may lay eggs in the nests of their neighbours, which may lead to nests with thirty eggs or more and unsuccessful incubation-a behaviour known as "nest dumping". įemales typically lay seven to fifteen eggs which incubate for an average of thirty days. Unlike most other ducks, the wood duck has sharp claws for perching in trees and can, in southern regions, produce two broods in a single season-the only North American duck that can do so. Females line their nests with feathers and other soft materials, and the elevation provides some protection from predators. Wood ducks may end up nesting up to a mile away from their water source as a result. Other species may compete with them for nesting cavities, such as birds of prey, as well as mammals such as grey squirrels, and these animals may also occupy nest boxes meant for wood ducks. They usually nest in cavities in trees close to water, although they will take advantage of nesting boxes in wetland locations. Their breeding habitat is wooded swamps, shallow lakes, marshes, ponds and creeks in the eastern United States, the west coast of the United States, some adjacent parts of southern Canada, and the west coast of Mexico. The male's call is a rising whistle, jeeeeee the females utter a drawn-out, rising squeal, do weep do weep, when flushed, and a sharp cr-r-ek, cr-e-ek for an alarm call. The speculum is iridescent blue-green with a white border on the trailing edge. The female, less colorful, has a white eye-ring and a whitish throat. The adult male has stunning multicolored iridescent plumage and red eyes, with a distinctive white flare down the neck. It shares its genus with the Asian mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata). This is about three-quarters the length of an adult mallard. A typical adult is from 47 to 54 cm (19 to 21 in) in length with a wingspan of between 66 and 73 cm (26 and 29 in). The wood duck is a medium-sized perching duck. A male wood duck taking flight A male wood duck stretching Description The drake wood duck is one of the most colorful North American waterfowls. The wood duck or Carolina duck ( Aix sponsa) is a species of perching duck found in North America. Problems playing this file? See media help. ![]()
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