*Oology is a branch of ornithology studying bird eggs, nests and breeding behaviour. The word is derived from the Greek oion, meaning egg.
37. Wood Duck
This part of the Stanislaus Audubon Website is focused on 44 common Central Valley nesting species with background about their nesting habits. Please check the Great Valley Museum Central Valley Egg Collection starting page for links to all the featured species.
WOOD DUCK NESTING INFORMATION (From birdsoftheworld.org)
Nests - Pair formation begins in late summer and continues into fall and winter. Cavity nester, but does not excavate cavity; instead uses preformed cavities. Male accompanies female in search of nest cavities, but he plays no role in selection. Mature forests are needed for development of trees with suitable cavities and prefer sites close to or over water. Female lines nest with down taken from her breast beginning about midway through egg-laying.
Eggs - Elliptical to subelliptical. Color varies from white or creamy white to dark tan. Fairly glossy. Clutch size is generally 9 to 11 (range 8 to 16).
Incubation - Averages about 30 d over entire range. Only females incubate eggs.
Fledging - Chicks are precocial and downy, generally dark brown above and buffy yellow below and on face. Broods frequently travel long distances immediately after leaving nest.
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