Game Birds of the World

The North American wood duck is largely limited to wooded areas in North America, where it is most abundant east of the Great Plains and south of Canada. It has extended its range in recent decades, partly because of extensive nest box erection programs in areas where natural tree cavities are rare or lacking. Displays in this species are conspicuous and have evolved to maximally display the crest, the brilliant body patterning, and the iridescent upper wing coloration. The pair bond lasts only through a single breeding season, but may be reformed the following fall if both birds come back into contact.

Tree cavities are typically used for nesting, although nest boxes are often chosen as well, especially if the female was hatched in one. Both sexes participate in the search, but the final choice of a site is evidently made by the female. In areas where suitable nest cavities are limited, competition over nest sites may result in more than one female wood duck laying her eggs in a single location, or in mixed clutches of wood duck and goldeneye or hooded merganser eggs. Even in normal clutches the number of eggs laid is surprisingly large; 13–16 eggs is probably a typical range. Incubation by the female begins with the last egg and requires about 30 days. During this period the male abandons his mate and, after moving into relatively heavy cover, begins his postnuptial molt. As soon as their young have left the nesting cavity by jumping to the ground a day or so after hatching, females lead their broods to the nearest water.