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Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

Bird · family Anatidae · order Anseriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Wood Duck
Photo: lwolfartist, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
49 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
22 years[4]

The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is a duck, a bird in the family Anatidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure[2], and it is native in 49 US states and territories[3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Wood Duck a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. In the United States it is ranked Secure both in the breeding season and outside it[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and as a migratory bird it is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Wood Duck lives

NatureServe lists the Wood Duck as native in 49 US states and territories, from Maine and Florida in the East to California, Oregon and Washington in the West[3]. State ranks vary, and the full list is in the table on this page[10]. The states with the most GBIF reports are New York, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but that reflects where people look and report, not how many ducks live there[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S4BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5BNHWashington: native, state rank S3N,S4BWAIdaho: native, state rank S4B,S4NIDMontana: native, state rank S5BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5B,S5MMAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S3NVWyoming: native, state rank S3BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5BSDIowa: native, state rank S5B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4B,S1NINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S4BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S4B,S4NRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S2B,S3NUTColorado: native, state rank S4BCONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S4BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S3N,S5BWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5B,S3NMDDelaware: native, state rank S5BDEArizona: native, state rank S2B,S3NAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4B,S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S4BKSArkansas: native, state rank S4B,S4NARTennessee: native, state rank S5BTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S4NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S3N,S4BDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S4B,S4NMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4B,S5NTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (49 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
ArkansasS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
ConnecticutS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
DelawareS5BSecure (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS3N,S4BVulnerable (nonbreeding), Apparently Secure (breeding)
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4B,S1NApparently Secure (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
IowaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
KentuckyS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5BSecure (breeding)
MarylandS5B,S3NSecure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
MassachusettsS5B,S5MSecure (breeding), Secure (migrant)
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
MississippiS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
MissouriS5Secure
MontanaS5BSecure (breeding)
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
NevadaS3Vulnerable
New HampshireS5BSecure (breeding)
New JerseyS5Secure
New MexicoS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5B,S4NSecure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS5BSecure (breeding)
TennesseeS5BSecure (breeding)
TexasS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
UtahS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
VermontS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS3N,S4BVulnerable (nonbreeding), Apparently Secure (breeding)
West VirginiaS3N,S5BVulnerable (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)
WyomingS3BVulnerable (breeding)

Habitat

Wood Ducks use calm inland water with trees close by, such as swampy woods, ponds, marshes and stream banks[12]. In winter they also turn up in slightly salty marshes and coastal waters where rivers meet the sea[12]. They nest in tree holes in wet forests and also use nest boxes, usually not far from water[12]. NatureServe habitat types include hardwood, conifer and mixed forest, forested wetland, riparian areas (land along rivers) and shallow water[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

Wood Ducks eat plants and small animals[14]. Their food includes seeds of water plants, tree nuts such as acorns, fruits and insects, and in winter they eat mostly plants[15]. EltonTraits estimates the diet at 50% seeds and 50% other plant material[16]. A typical adult is about 47 cm (19 in) long[17] and weighs about 681 g[18]. A typical clutch is 12 eggs[19], incubation takes 31 days[20], and the oldest known wild Wood Duck was at least 22 years 6 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 47 cm (19 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 681 g (24.0 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[21] 22.5 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 22 years 6 months
Litter or clutch size[19] 12
Gestation or incubation[20] 31 days
Female maturity[22] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[14] Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore
Migration[23] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 50% seeds
  • 50% other plant material

When to look for it

Wood Ducks are active by day and also at dawn and dusk, which is what crepuscular means[24]. Birds in the far south of the breeding range mostly stay put, while northern birds fly south for winter, mainly in October and November[25]. They head back north from mid-March and reach northern nesting areas by mid-April[25]. GBIF reports peak in March, April and May[26].

January: 102,241 recordsJanFebruary: 138,618 recordsFebMarch: 444,660 recordsMarApril: 789,790 recordsAprMay: 723,157 recordsMayJune: 280,999 recordsJunJuly: 265,488 recordsJulAugust: 340,988 recordsAugSeptember: 369,425 recordsSepOctober: 303,100 recordsOctNovember: 141,556 recordsNovDecember: 92,411 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January102,241
February138,618
March444,660
April789,790
May723,157
June280,999
July265,488
August340,988
September369,425
October303,100
November141,556
December92,411

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Wood Duck as present in 160 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 136 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Wood Duck endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe ranks it Secure[2].
Where do Wood Ducks live?
NatureServe lists them as native in 49 US states and territories[3]. They use calm water near woods, such as swampy forests, ponds and streams[12].
What do Wood Ducks eat?
They eat seeds of water plants, acorns and other tree nuts, fruits and insects[15]. Ducklings start out eating mostly insects[15].
How big is a Wood Duck?
A typical adult is about 47 cm (19 in) long[17] and weighs about 681 g[18].
How long do Wood Ducks live?
The oldest known wild Wood Duck from banding records was at least 22 years 6 months old[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[21].

Facts and sources

  1. Wood Duck is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Wood Duck: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Wood Duck as native in 49 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Wood Duck from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 22 years 6 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is a bird in the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Wood Duck is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Wood Duck (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Wood Duck: New York, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Wood Duck. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Wood Duck: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Herbaceous wetland, Forested wetland, Bog/fen, Riparian, Big river, Medium river, Creek, Low... NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Wood Duck. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 50% seeds, 50% other plant material. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 47 cm (19 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 681 g (24.0 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 12. AnAge
  20. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 31 days. AnAge
  21. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 22.5 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Wood Duck: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Wood Duck. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Wood Duck in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Wood Duck as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: lwolfartist, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.