Date of this Version
The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Nebraska's only tree nesting duck, has four major requirements for breeding habitat. These requirements a r e food, cover, water, and suitable nest cavities which govern the distribution of breeding wood ducks in Nebraska. Without any one of these four requirements, wood ducks would not be able to maintain a breeding population.
Very little is known about the spring food requirements of nesting wood ducks, and only the most general comments can be made. It is known t h a t protein requirements for both the hen and ducklings are high. Pairs, especially hens, and ducklings feed extensively on both flying and aquatic insects, with plants such as duck weed and coontail also being utilized.