  
Wood Ducks are found in eastern
North America from southern Canada to the southern coast of the
United States. They are also found along parts of North America's
West Coast. Woodland streams or pools, forest bottomlands, river
valleys, swamps, marshes, lakes, and creeks are all typical Wood
Duck habitat. Female Wood Ducks exhibit extreme site fidelity,
returning to the same breeding ground year after year while Wood
Ducks residing in southern North America tend to be year-round
residents.
The breeding season begins in April in the southern portion of
the range. In northern areas, Wood Ducks arrive on the breeding
ground soon after the ice thaws, usually in early May. There are,
however, reports of Wood Ducks in Canada beginning to nest as
early as the second week of April. The nests are not necessarily
at the water's edge. Many Wood Ducks nest up to a half-mile away
from the water: a distance still close enough that the female can
lead her young to water after they leave the nest.
Wood Duck houses should be mounted on a post or deciduous tree 6 to 8 feet high
with the entrance hole facing south or west and within 30 to 100
feet from the nearest water. In situations where nest boxes are
in close proximity to one another, female Wood Ducks seem to have
difficulty discerning which nest box is theirs. Consequently,
more than one female lays eggs in a single box, creating very
large clutches that cannot be effectively incubated; these
clutches subsequently fail. As a rule, it is best not to put up
Wood Duck houses within sight of each other.
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