ND Wood Duck Hunting Guide

Also known as: Wood duck, Carolina duck

Wood Duck Fact Sheet The wood duck is medium-sized duck. From late fall through spring, males have a black head with purple and green iridescence, white eye ring, two parallel white stripes extending into the crest, white throat patch and red eyes. The chest is reddish brown, back glossy black, and belly white. Females are drab gray with white eye ring and belly. Both sexes have a glossy green, purple and blue wing with a white bar on the trailing edge of the speculum (female speculum duller). Fun Facts: In the early 1900s, wood ducks were nearly wiped out because of unrestricted year-round market hunting and habitat destruction. Hunting was severally restricted by the passing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, and not relaxed until 1941. Recovery of wood ducks is now heralded as one of the great wildlife conservation success stories of the 20th century, due in part to construction and distribution of nesting boxes.

Habitat & Range

Typically lays eggs in tree cavities, generally restricted to riparian forests along major rivers and streams on the Northern Plains. Clutch size 12 eggs Incubation period 30 days

Life History

Food: Wood ducks feed on insects, sago pond weed, seeds and acorns.

Status, Trends & Threats

Wood ducks are fairly common during nesting and fall migration seasons in wooded habitats in North Dakota, especially along major rivers.

Hunting Season

Sep 27 – Dec 7 (Low Plains and High Plains units); High Plains continues Dec 13 – Jan 4

References

• North Dakota — Wood Duck