The Wood Duck is a native and popular game bird in the United States (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003). It is also the only native perching duck in North America (Stokes and Stokes 1989). Perching ducks typically nest in tree cavities, but Wood Ducks will often use man-made nest boxes (Stokes and Stokes 1989). Females may lay eggs in other nest boxes if they are too close to one another (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003).

The Wood Duck is a very colorful and handsome duck that almost went extinct in the early 1900's, due to the removal of dead trees. Conservation efforts were made, including the construction of nest boxes, and populations gradually increased (Stokes and Stokes 1989). The Wood Duck is no longer threatened with low populations.

Length: 18 in (43.75 cm) (Kaufman 2000).

Physical characteristics:
Males, for most of the year, are very colorful with a shiny green crest and black head. White stripes extend from the base of the bill to the back of the crest. White stripes are also located on the neck, cheek, and throat. The back, breast, and vent are brown, with a light brown belly and wings. Secondaries of males and females are bright blue and are best seen in flight. Females have a small crest and a gray head. Females have a white eye patch, which the males lack. Females have a dark gray back. Juveniles resemble the females, though young males have hints of the adult plumage patterns. Voice: Call. Male is a 'thin, djeee'. Female is a 'shrill, hoarse oowheak' (Kaufman 2000), especially when flushed from the water.

Breeding habitat:
This species typically nests in wet habitats; wooded swamps, bogs, flooded forest, pond, or marsh (Ehrlich et. al. 1988).

Mating system:
Monogamous. Courtship begins in autumn and pairs continue until spring. Courtship displays include a group of ducks with more males than females. Males swim around females with heads tucked down. Males perform bill-jerk displays, while females will give a coquette-call. A bill-jerk display is when the male rapidly flicks bill up, exposing the white under his chin. The coquette-call is a short, descending note. After this, both males and females may perform bill-jerks. Intensity increases and females may then do inciting (rapidly flick bill over her shoulder, repeated many times). Males then usually fight, chasing each other and splashing. The fight usually ends the sequence, but is repeated later. During these sequences, a dominance hierarchy is usually made. The dominant males will approach the females, and females will accept one or two males. Eventually, she lets one stay near, sometimes close enough to preen the feathers on her head (Stokes and Stokes 1989).

Nest:
The nest is located in a snag usually over 30ft from the ground, but will also use nest boxes as low as 2 ft from the ground. Females build the nest in a tree cavity, which is lined with wood chips and down (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Eggs:
The average clutch contains 10-15 eggs, typically having one brood a year, maybe two in the south. Eggs are unmarked and creamy white in color. 2.0 in (51 mm) (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Chick development:
The female incubates for 28-37 days. Hatchlings are born totally precocial, finding their own food. The male and female both tend to the young, which fledge in 56-70 days (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Diet:
This species feeds on aquatic and terrestrial insects, as well as seeds, such as berries, grains, and acorns. They forage by submerging headfirst and removed items from the bottom substrate (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

In Park: An occasional permanent resident, which is known to breed in the park (Alsop 2003). It is the only known duck to breed in the park (Stupka 1963). Sightings before 1960 have been in Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Abrams Creek (Stupka 1963). More recent observations have also been in Cades Cove and Abrams Creek, as well as Cheoah Lake, Little River, Houston Chambers Pond, and Raven Fork (Park Observations). It is a regular resident in Tennessee and has bred in the state (Tennessee Ornithological Society 2006). In the North Carolina, it is a fairly common permanent resident (Potter et al. 1980).

References:

Alsop, F. J. 1991. Birds Of The Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association. Gatlinburg, TN.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2003. Available at All About Birds: Wood Duck. Accessed on March 31, 2006.

Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The Birder?s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. Simon and Schuster, Inc. New York.

Kaufman, K. 2000. Birds of North America. Hillstar Editions L. C. New York.

LeGrand, H. E. and Hall, S. P., compilers. 1999. Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Animals of North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Reso

Potter, E. F., J. F. Parnell, and R. P. Teulings. 1980. Birds of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.

Stokes, D. W. and L. Q. Stokes. 1989. Stokes Nature Guides: A Guide to Bird Behavior Volume Three. Little, Brown and Company, Boston.

Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN.

Tennessee Ornithological Society. 2006. Available at The Official Checklist of the Birds of Tennessee. Accessed on March 31, 2006.

Withers, D. I., K. Condict, and R. McCoy. 2004. A Guide to the Rare Animals of Tennessee. Division of Natural Heritage, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.