Manitoba · Summer breeder

Wood Ducks in Manitoba

When wood ducks are present in Manitoba, when they nest, which native Manitoba plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–3b yard.

Ducks and geese (Anatidae)Wood DuckAix sponsa

Status in Manitoba: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 1a–3b
Nest box: 4 × 3 in oval hole, 10 × 18 in floor, 6–20 ft

When to expect wood ducks in Manitoba

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

Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.

Nesting in Manitoba

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

Warm summers with a short, intense nesting season.

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 Manitoba plants that attract wood ducks

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

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

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.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Feeding wood ducks through the Manitoba year

Top foods: Cracked corn (on water margins), Millet.
In Manitoba'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 Manitoba year-round?

No. Wood Ducks are summer breeders in Manitoba and leave for the winter.

When do wood ducks nest in Manitoba?

Nesting in Manitoba 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 Manitoba?

Bur oak, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch are native plants in Manitoba 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 Manitoba

Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Bluebird White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow 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 Scarlet Tanager Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill 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.