The wood duck is also named as Carolina duck. It belongs to the North American Perching duck species. It’s the most colorful duck species. They are called wood ducks because they build nests in tree cavities and are mostly found in woodlands and wood swamps. Most of them change their location every season but a few of them return to the same location every year. It’s an herbivore bird. It feeds on herbs and oftentimes on insects. It’s a medium-sized perching duck. An adult duck is around 47 to 53 cm in size and a baby duck is around 12-15 cm in size. 

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It weighs around 450 to 860 g. It’s a goose-like duck with a brown head and pale grey body with two black stripes along the back. Male wood ducks have darker heads as compared to female wood ducks. Wood ducks usually pair up in January and females usually lay eggs in other female’s nests if placed closer. Wood ducks have an average lifespan of 3-4 years in the wild and up to 15 years in captivity. Wood ducks are the only North American perching species that produce only two broods in one year. 

Plants and Vegetables

Wood ducks, especially baby wood ducks, like to eat grasses, plants, and leaves. Wood ducks like to eat different types of seeds like safflower seeds, sunflower seeds, etc., and bay grasses and wetland plants the most. Wood ducks also like to eat acorns, pondweeds, and wild rice. Wood ducks eat plants, nuts, seeds, and fruits. Scrambled eggs are their favorite food.

Insects and worms

Despite their herbivore nature Wood ducks also sometimes eat insects and creepy crawlies like clover mites, snails, salamanders, and small tadpoles. Wood ducks also eat slugs, mealworms, and earthworms.

What baby wood ducks don’t eat?

Baby wood ducks and even adult wood ducks can’t eat bread, cereals, crackers, or any bread-based products.