Mallards more interesting than they might appear

A co-worker of mine mentioned he had gotten exceptionally close-up views of mallard ducks while kayaking recently. He’d never really paid attention to them before and was impressed by the striking plumage of the male.

That made me think – how many times had I seen mallards and dismissed them as too commonplace? Anyone who has a small pond (or even a large puddle) on their property or lives near a river or creek often sees these ducks. They are abundant throughout the United States and Canada, often congregating around people who throw breadcrumbs out for them.

I had never really considered them as interesting, beautiful birds. Certainly, I never thought they were as attention-grabbing as the more exotic, less common wood ducks. Yet, my co-worker’s remark got me thinking, and I decided this ho-hum duck deserved closer scrutiny.

I was surprised to learn this duck is extremely hardy, a factor that has contributed to its adaptability. It can nest in forests, farmlands, parks, or wetlands; when foraging for food, it again utilizes a tremendous variety of habitats. It can tolerate harsh temperatures as long as food and open water are available, often waiting until freeze-up to migrate. It switches from a mostly carnivorous diet during the breeding season – consisting of earthworms, snails, and dragonfly and caddisfly larvae – to a vegetarian diet including seeds, acorns, and agricultural crop leftovers during the winter. And yes, breadcrumbs.

Mallards have an interesting breeding biology. They form pair bonds during winter; by the time they arrive on their nesting grounds in early spring, they are ready to get right down to the business of reproduction. I caught two of them in the act recently, in a quiet cove of the Stillwater River. Both the male and female engaged in a comical head-bobbing behavior for a few seconds beforehand. Referring to the “Birds of North America” species account, I learned this is a common display which precedes mating.

Males other than the female’s mate may attempt to breed with her; ornithologists call this behavior forced extra-pair copulation. If this occurs, one clutch may contain chicks from several different fathers.

Generally, the drake will also desert the hen once she begins incubating the eggs. This is not a huge detriment. While some incubating birds seldom leave the nest and are therefore dependent upon their mates to bring them food, the hen mallard is able to leave the nest for short periods of time to feed. She’s able to do this even in inclement weather, since even the eggs can withstand cold temperatures.

Most people familiar with this duck have heard their distinctive, signature quacks but may be surprised to learn that only the female makes this sound. The male produces a quieter vocalization described as “rhaeb, rhaeb,” as well as whistles and grunts.

Certainly, there’s more to the mallard than meets the eye.

BDN bird columnist Chris Corio can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net