Rhode Island · Year-round resident

Wood Ducks in Rhode Island

When wood ducks are present in Rhode Island, when they nest, which native Rhode Island plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–7b yard.

Ducks and geese (Anatidae)Wood DuckAix sponsa

Status in Rhode Island: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 6a–7b
Nest box: 4 × 3 in oval hole, 10 × 18 in floor, 6–20 ft

When to expect wood ducks in Rhode Island

Wood Ducks live in Rhode Island all year. Relatively mild coastal winters for New England. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Humid continental with strong maritime moderation around Narragansett Bay.

Nesting in Rhode Island

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

Warm summers with sea breezes.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — 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 Rhode Island plants that attract wood ducks

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

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

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.

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.

Sugar maple

Acer saccharum · Tree

Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.

Feeding wood ducks through the Rhode Island year

Top foods: Cracked corn (on water margins), Millet.
In Rhode Island's winter: Relatively mild coastal winters for New England.

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

Frequently asked

Are wood ducks in Rhode Island year-round?

Yes. Wood Ducks are year-round residents in Rhode Island.

When do wood ducks nest in Rhode Island?

Nesting in Rhode Island typically runs March–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 6–16 eggs, incubated for 28–37 days.

What native plants attract wood ducks in Rhode Island?

White oak, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple are native plants in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Fox Sparrow American Crow Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Scarlet Tanager Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Horned Lark Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bohemian Waxwing Yellow-billed Cuckoo Bobolink 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.