AL Wood Duck Hunting Guide

Also known as: Wood duck, Carolina duck

The wood duck or Carolina duck is a partially migratory species of perching duck found in North America. The male is one of the most colorful North American waterfowls.

Habitat & Range

The birds are year-round residents in parts of its southern range, but the northern populations migrate south for the winter.[12][13]They overwinter in the southern United States near the Atlantic Coast. 75% of the wood ducks in thePacific Flywayare non-migratory.[13] Due to their attractive plumage, they are also popular in waterfowl collections and as such are frequently recorded inGreat Britainas escapees—populations have become temporarily established inSurreyin the past, but are not considered to be self-sustaining in the fashion of the closely relatedmandarin duck.[citation needed]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.[14] Given its native distribution, the species is also a potential natural vagrant to Western Europe and there have been records in areas such asCornwall,Scotlandand theIsles 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.[citation needed]

Life History

Thewood duckorCarolina duck(Aix sponsa) is a partially migratory species ofperching duckfound inNorth America. The male is one of the most colorful North Americanwaterfowls.[2][3] The wood duck is a medium-sizedperching duck. 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's weight ranges from 454–862 grams (16.0–30.4 oz).[9]This is about three-quarters the length of an adultmallard. It shares its genus with the Asianmandarin duck(Aix galericulata).[2] The adult male has stunning multicolored iridescent plumage and red eyes, with a distinctive white flare down the neck. The female, less colorful, has a white eye-ring and a whitish throat. Both adults have crested heads. Thespeculumis iridescent blue-green with a white border on the trailing edge.[10] 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 sharpcr-r-ek, cr-e-ekfor an alarm call.[11] Their breeding habitat is woodedswamps, shallow lakes,marshes, ponds and creeks in the easternUnited States, the west coast of the United States, some adjacent parts of southernCanada, and the west coast ofMexico. They get their name from being one of the only species of ducks who perch and nest in trees. In recent decades, the breeding range has expanded towards the Great Plains. Currently most breeding occurs in the Mississippi alluvial valley.[15]They usually nest in cavities in trees close to water, although they will take advantage ofnesting boxesin wetland locations. Other species may compete with them for nesting cavities, such asbirds of prey, as well as mammals such as grey squirrels, and these animals may also occupy nest boxes meant for wood ducks. Wood ducks may end up nesting up to a mile away from their water source as a result.[16]Females line their nests with feathers and other soft materials, and the elevation provides some protection from predators such as raccoons, owls, and hawks.[17]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.[11] Wood ducks typically lay their first eggs from February to April.[18]Females typically lay seven to fifteen eggs which areincubatedfor an average of thirty days.[11]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".[19][20] The day after they hatch, theprecocialducklings climb to the opening of the nest cavity and jump down from the nest tree to the ground. The morning after hatching, the hen will leave the nest to feed and make sure it is safe for her chicks. When she decides it is safe, she uses a maternal call to call the chicks out. Chicks can jump from as high as 50 feet, surviving by landing either in water, or on top of soft material such as leaf litter.[18]The mother calls them to her and guides them to water.[17]The ducklings can swim and find their own food by this time. Wood ducks prefer nesting over water so the young have a soft landing.

Status, Trends & Threats

The population of the wood duck was in serious decline in the late 19th century as a result of severehabitat lossand market hunting for both meat and plumage for the ladies' hat market in Europe. By the beginning of the 20th century, wood ducks had become rare, almost disappearing in many areas. In response to theMigratory Bird Treaty, established in 1916, and enactment of the U.S.Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, wood ducks finally began to repopulate. By enforcing existing hunting regulations and protecting woodland and marsh habitat, wood duck populations began to rebound starting in the 1920s. The erection of nesting boxes starting in the 1930s further assisted wood duck conservation.[20]A synopsis of evidence from multiple studies performed by Williams et al. (2020) concluded that providing artificial nesting sites for wildfowl, including wood ducks, is beneficial.[25]Wood duck boxes have been found to be less effective than natural, hollow, dead trees but remain overall beneficial for the population.[26] Landowners as well as park and refuge managers can encourage wood ducks by building wood duck nest boxes near lakes, ponds, and streams.Fulda, Minnesota, has adopted the wood duck as an unofficial mascot, and a large number of nest boxes can be found in the area.[citation needed] ExpandingNorth American beaver(Castor canadensis) populations throughout the wood duck's range have also helped the population rebound as beavers create an ideal forested wetland habitat for wood ducks.[13] The population of the wood duck has increased a great deal in the last several years.[when?]The increase has been due to the work of many people constructing wood duck boxes and conserving vital habitat for the wood ducks to breed. During the open waterfowl season, U.S. hunters have been allowed to take only two wood ducks per day in theAtlanticandMississippi Flyways. However, for the 2008–2009 season, the limit was raised to three. The wood duck limit remains at two in theCentral Flywayand at seven in thePacific Flyway. It is the second most commonly hunted duck in North America, after the mallard.[18] Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4044 on 26 March 2026, designating the wood duck as the official duck of the state of Michigan. The wood duck was nearly extinct in the early 1900's. Michigan is now home to an estimated 100,000 wood ducks with Whitmer's office describing the wood duck as a "conservation success story".[27]

Hunting Season

Typically late Nov - late Jan (varies by zone). Follows federal migratory bird frameworks.

References

• Alabama — Wood Duck