British Columbia · Summer breeder

Wood Ducks in British Columbia

When wood ducks are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.

Ducks and geese (Anatidae)Wood DuckAix sponsa

Status in British Columbia: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 1a–9a
Nest box: 4 × 3 in oval hole, 10 × 18 in floor, 6–20 ft
Range note: Southern valleys.

When to expect wood ducks in British Columbia

Wood Ducks are summer residents in British Columbia, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Southern valleys.

Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.

Nesting in British Columbia

Across British Columbia, wood ducks typically nest from April–June. Plan around that window: March for setup, June for clean-out.

Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — wood ducks begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 4 × 3 in oval entrance on a 10 × 18 in floor, mounted 6–20 ft.
Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.

Native British Columbia plants that attract wood ducks

Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, these 8 provide food or cover wood ducks use:

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Rocky Mountain bee plant

Cleome serrulata · Perennial

Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Oregon white oak

Quercus garryana · Tree

Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding wood ducks through the British Columbia year

Top foods: Cracked corn (on water margins), Millet.
In British Columbia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for wood ducks · Best feeder for wood ducks

Frequently asked

Are wood ducks in British Columbia year-round?

No. Wood Ducks are summer breeders in British Columbia and leave for the winter. Southern valleys.

When do wood ducks nest in British Columbia?

Nesting in British Columbia typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 6–16 eggs, incubated for 28–37 days.

What native plants attract wood ducks in British Columbia?

Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Oregon white oak, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for wood ducks.

What size birdhouse hole do wood ducks need?

4 × 3 in oval, with a floor of 10 × 18 in mounted 6–20 ft.

Other backyard birds in British Columbia

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.