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That Nest in Birdhouses70birds
That Nest in BirdhousesWood Duck
Aix sponsa
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aix
Species: sponsa
La. anser goose
La. forma form, shape, kind
Gr. anous foolish
La. anas duck
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. aix water bird
La. sponsa bride
About 18 inches long. A beautiful, elegant bird. Iridescent green and purple head and crest. Two white lines, one supercilium (a strip above the eye like a long narrow eyebrow), and one just below extending back from the eye (post-ocular). Dark brown upper parts. Purple and green wings with a white band in the front. White throat. Chestnut breast with white spots. White underside. Red iris and eyelids.
Wood ducks are abundant especially in woodlands near water throughout most of North America from the Hudson Bay region to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some migrate as far as Mexico and some winter as far north as Virginia
Wood ducks call out a high pitched note somewhat like zipping a long plastic zipper with increasing speed. they also call a shorter squeak.
They forage for acorns and aquatic plant seeds (wild oats and rice), roots, berries and insects.
Wood ducks nest in deep cavities of decaying trees at heights from within reach to over 60 feet in forested lowlands often over water or within a hundred feet more or less. Sometimes a pair occupies the same nest for several breeding seasons.
Females lay around eight to twelve (but the number varies significantly) ivory colored eggs which hatch after about four to five weeks incubation.
The day after the eggs all hatch, the parents coax the young ducklings to jump from the nest and while the male parent stands guard, the female parent leads the ducklings to water and they begin learning to forage. Young learn to fly at about two months of age.
Wood Duck Nest Box
The Wood Duck Nest Box (same as for Hooded Merganser, and Kestrel) has a 10″ by 10″ floor, 24″ inside floor to ceiling, 4″ wide by 3″ high entrance hole located 21″ above the floor and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof. Make a Side Door.
Please do not attract duck families and leave them vulnerable to predators. Significant reduction in predation has been achieved through proper location, installation and protection from predators.
Duck nest box management best practices have so drastically reduced duckling mortality that it's probably unwise to do it any other way. It's even easier. Metal posts, cone guards, near the water, above ground, within reach, side opening doors. No ladders or boats. Easier, safer, best success rates.
Visit the Wood Duck Society. Follow their tested and proven best practices.
Wood Duck Nest Box
View/Print Plans
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aix
Species: sponsa
La. anser goose
La. forma form, shape, kind
Gr. anous foolish
La. anas duck
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. aix water bird
La. sponsa bride
About 18 inches long. A beautiful, elegant bird. Iridescent green and purple head and crest. Two white lines, one supercilium (a strip above the eye like a long narrow eyebrow), and one just below extending back from the eye (post-ocular). Dark brown upper parts. Purple and green wings with a white band in the front. White throat. Chestnut breast with white spots. White underside. Red iris and eyelids.
Wood ducks are abundant especially in woodlands near water throughout most of North America from the Hudson Bay region to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some migrate as far as Mexico and some winter as far north as Virginia
Wood ducks call out a high pitched note somewhat like zipping a long plastic zipper with increasing speed. they also call a shorter squeak.
They forage for acorns and aquatic plant seeds (wild oats and rice), roots, berries and insects.
Wood ducks nest in deep cavities of decaying trees at heights from within reach to over 60 feet in forested lowlands often over water or within a hundred feet more or less. Sometimes a pair occupies the same nest for several breeding seasons.
Females lay around eight to twelve (but the number varies significantly) ivory colored eggs which hatch after about four to five weeks incubation.
The day after the eggs all hatch, the parents coax the young ducklings to jump from the nest and while the male parent stands guard, the female parent leads the ducklings to water and they begin learning to forage. Young learn to fly at about two months of age.
Wood Duck Nest Box
The Wood Duck Nest Box (same as for Hooded Merganser, and Kestrel) has a 10″ by 10″ floor, 24″ inside floor to ceiling, 4″ wide by 3″ high entrance hole located 21″ above the floor and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof. Make a Side Door.
Please do not attract duck families and leave them vulnerable to predators. Significant reduction in predation has been achieved through proper location, installation and protection from predators.
Duck nest box management best practices have so drastically reduced duckling mortality that it's probably unwise to do it any other way. It's even easier. Metal posts, cone guards, near the water, above ground, within reach, side opening doors. No ladders or boats. Easier, safer, best success rates.
Visit the Wood Duck Society. Follow their tested and proven best practices.
Wood Duck Nest Box
View/Print Plans
Wood Duck
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
Aix sponsa
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aix
Species: sponsa
La. anser goose
La. forma form, shape, kind
Gr. anous foolish
La. anas duck
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. aix water bird
La. sponsa bride
About 18 inches long. A beautiful, elegant bird. Iridescent green and purple head and crest. Two white lines, one supercilium (a strip above the eye like a long narrow eyebrow), and one just below extending back from the eye (post-ocular). Dark brown upper parts. Purple and green wings with a white band in the front. White throat. Chestnut breast with white spots. White underside. Red iris and eyelids.
Wood ducks are abundant especially in woodlands near water throughout most of North America from the Hudson Bay region to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some migrate as far as Mexico and some winter as far north as Virginia
Wood ducks call out a high pitched note somewhat like zipping a long plastic zipper with increasing speed. they also call a shorter squeak.
They forage for acorns and aquatic plant seeds (wild oats and rice), roots, berries and insects.
Wood ducks nest in deep cavities of decaying trees at heights from within reach to over 60 feet in forested lowlands often over water or within a hundred feet more or less. Sometimes a pair occupies the same nest for several breeding seasons.
Females lay around eight to twelve (but the number varies significantly) ivory colored eggs which hatch after about four to five weeks incubation.
The day after the eggs all hatch, the parents coax the young ducklings to jump from the nest and while the male parent stands guard, the female parent leads the ducklings to water and they begin learning to forage. Young learn to fly at about two months of age.
Wood Duck Nest Box
The Wood Duck Nest Box (same as for Hooded Merganser, and Kestrel) has a 10″ by 10″ floor, 24″ inside floor to ceiling, 4″ wide by 3″ high entrance hole located 21″ above the floor and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof.
Make a Side Opening Door for easy access.
Wood Duck
Nest Box Plans
Duck nest box management best practices have so drastically reduced duckling mortality that it's probably unwise to do it any other way. It's even easier. Metal posts, cone guards, near the water, above ground, within reach, side opening doors. No ladders or boats. Easier, safer, best success rates.
Visit the Wood Duck Society. Follow their tested and proven best practices.
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