Wildlife Session Foraging Habits of Mallards and Wood Ducks in a Bottomland Hardwood Forest in Texas

Absrrt7c.r: Althul~gh winter foods o f mallards (Annsplat~rh~t tcos) and wood ducks (Aix sporlscl) have been documented in several studies, 110 stich research has been conducted in nati~ral bottomland hardwood forests in eastern 'Texas. We collected 40 mallards and 78 woocl dticks and san~pleil available foods in eastern Texas during winters 1987-1988 and 1988-89 to study food habits and preferences. Acorns from four oak species comprised >89% and 399% of the diets of mallards ar~d wood ducks, respectively. Nuttall oak (QIICIT'LI,T texrrrra) acorns made up :47% of the diet of each species both years. Prograin PREFER incticateci seeds of decitluous holly ( I l e , ~ (Ieci(It~(z) and willow oak (Q. phellos) acorns were favored by mallards and wood ducks, respectively; preferences overlapped wiclely artlong potential foods, however. Although bottomland systems provide critical habitat for wintering waterfowl, their contributions can be enhanced by applying established silvicultural techniques to encourage desirable oak species. Key rrgor.ils: acorns, food habits, food preferences, mallard, wood duck