Home’s Where the Hen Is Adult wood ducks search for mates
within waterfront trees. The hen
in fall and pair up by midwinter for
pads the nest with down she plucks
a one-year partnership.
from her breast, laying one egg a
In spring, they fly north together to
day and 6–16 eggs total.
breeding grounds in the northern
But the nest may contain up to
U.S. and southern Canada.
40 eggs “due to a unique behavior
Hens tend to return to where they hatched or nested the previous
called compound nesting,” or eggdumping, said Berlinghof.
year. Drakes follow their chosen
“Female wood ducks will lay eggs
mate. So, a drake may migrate to
in multiple nests nearby. The nest
Michigan one year, a Lake County
owner will incubate them with her
forest preserve the next.
The Hen
brood and raise them as if they
“The mated couples inspect old woodpecker holes, tree cavities
were her own.” After about a month of incubation,
and wood duck boxes for a nesting
the chicks hatch out of glossy, tan
spot,” Berlinghof said.
eggs within a few hours of each other if from the same mother.
“Typically, the male will perch nearby while the female tips her
The next morning, the ducklings
head into each potential home
will take the same leap from the
before selecting the best nest.”
trees their parents once did.
The parents-to-be often choose
Upon reaching ground level,
openings 2–60 feet off the ground
they don’t look back. This illustration depicts a mated pair swimming, their reflections rippling beneath them.
The Drake
The Ducklings Photos: (Top to bottom) Using sharp claws on her feet, a hen stands outside the entrance to her nest. • A drake shows off his vivid feathers, meant to impress females. • Fluffy siblings peek out of their home.
Wood Duck Whereabouts In addition to tree cavities, human-made nest boxes are popular with this species. Wood ducks begin arriving in Lake County each February, then nest from March–July. Look for them in preserves with trees and nesting boxes near waterbodies. Visit LCFPD.org/birdwatching for more tips. LAK E COUNTY FOR E ST PRE S E RVES
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