Wood Duck

LC - Least Concern

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

not listed

15″ to 20″ in length

30″ wingspan

Unseen Wood Ducks are often recognized by the distinctive call they make while flying away at the approach of a human.

Breeding: Beaver ponds; wooded swamps, ponds; marshes with trees or extensive cattails; lakeshores with wooded edges

March to October

Aquatic vegetation, especially duckweed, sedges, and grasses; fruits; nuts

Common migrant and breeder

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Wood Ducks and a Northern Flicker at a pond...

I was filming the wood ducks and a northern flicker flew into view and went over by the ducks. It was at a pond in Norman County Mn. 9-17-23.

Wood Ducks...

I only seen them close enough one April 2023 day at a pond in Norman Co. Mn.

A Wood Duck in flight.

This one swam out from under a fallen tree before taking off flying into the sunlight as I captured this shot. In The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County.

A Female Woodduck in a pond in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Wood Duck with Mallard

“The Wood Duck nests in trees near water, sometimes directly over water, but other times up to 2 km (1.2 mi) away. After hatching, the ducklings jump down from the nest tree and make their way to water. The mother calls them to her, but does not help them in any way. The ducklings may jump from heights of up to 89 m (290 ft) without injury. They nest near this pond in the Maplewood Nature Center.”

— Cornell Lab - All About Birds

Urban parks host a large variety of wildlife if you really spend some time observing.

Wood ducks (male and female) and female Hooded Merganser with ducklings

Consistently around 8:15 p.m., this male Wood Duck and six others have been coming to our backyard (Credit River bluff area) to eat corn and birdseed. They are quick moving birds, making it almost impossible to take a sharp picture.

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

I was filming the wood ducks and a northern flicker flew into view and went over by the ducks. It was at a pond in Norman County Mn. 9-17-23.

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

I only seen them close enough one April 2023 day at a pond in Norman Co. Mn.

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

This one swam out from under a fallen tree before taking off flying into the sunlight as I captured this shot. In The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle County.

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center

Location: Becker County

Location: Becker County

Location: Becker County

Location: Becker County

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A Female Woodduck in a pond in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Location: Ramsey, Maplewood Hts

Location: Ramsey, Maplewood Hts Park

Location: Maplewood Nature Center

“The Wood Duck nests in trees near water, sometimes directly over water, but other times up to 2 km (1.2 mi) away. After hatching, the ducklings jump down from the nest tree and make their way to water. The mother calls them to her, but does not help them in any way. The ducklings may jump from heights of up to 89 m (290 ft) without injury. They nest near this pond in the Maplewood Nature Center.”

— Cornell Lab - All About Birds

Location: Maplewood Heights Park

Urban parks host a large variety of wildlife if you really spend some time observing.

Location: Crosby Farm Regional Park

Wood ducks (male and female) and female Hooded Merganser with ducklings

Location: Savage

Consistently around 8:15 p.m., this male Wood Duck and six others have been coming to our backyard (Credit River bluff area) to eat corn and birdseed. They are quick moving birds, making it almost impossible to take a sharp picture.