Wood ducks are cavity nesters. They nest in already existing large holes in trees or will also use nest boxes. It’s always interesting to see a duck in a tree.

Wood ducklings jump from the nest when they are only about 24 hours old. They follow their mother to the water. They may fall a distance of up to 60 feet up without injury. The nest cavity averages 25 feet up. It is usually close to water, but could be as much as a mile from water.

Female wood ducks will sometimes lay their eggs in another female’s nest to be raised by that female (egg dumping).