 Hybrids of water oak are known with southern red oak ("Quercus falcata"), bluejack oak ("Quercus incana"), turkey oak ("Quercus laevis"), blackjack oak ("Quercus marilandica"), willow oak ("Quercus phellos"), Shumard oak ("Quercus shumardii"), and black oak ("Quercus velutina").Water oak acorns are an important food for white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrel, raccoon, wild turkey, mallard, wood duck, and bobwhite quail.In winter, deer will browse the buds and young twigs.