Natural Oakville - The Mallard Duck
The Mallard Duck compensates for it's abundance with it's great beauty and curious personality. Commonly found in waterbodies throughout the Oakville region, it's adaptability has made it the most commonly seen duck in the Halton region.
- Mallards are capable of interbreeding with 63 other species of ducks worldwide.
- It is found on 6 continents and is the most widespread duck in the world.
- Male Mallards, known as drakes, only have their bright green head during the breeding season. In the eclipse season, their plumage becomes a dull brown similar to the females. Female mallards are known as 'hens'.
- Male mallards can be distinguished during the non-breeding season by their yellowish bills. The females have a more brownish bill.
- During the non-breeding season, mallards form large flocks known as 'sords'.
- Mallards are known as 'dabblers' due to their feeding style.
Feeding mainly on plant food (although the young do feed on insects), they float on waterbodies and tip their bodies downwards where they can 'dabble' on the food to be found just below the surface. - A Mallard pair stays together only until the female lays eggs. At that time she is left alone by the male.
- After laying up to 13 eggs, the female mallard incubates them until they hatch, approximately 28 days later.
- After hatching, young mallards are readily able to swim and feed on insects. They stay close to their mother for protection.
- Some mallards remain in the Halton/Oakville region throughout the winter, as long as there is open water.
The majority, however, can be seen in the Oakville and Burlington area beginning in February when they return from their southern wintering grounds.
©2010JoSmith
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Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Brekland Realty Group, Oakville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.oakville-burlingtonhomes.com |
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Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Your Choice Realty , Mississauga, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.oakville-burlingtonhomes.com |
Hi Jo,
Great post. We have ducks on the Grand behind my apartment building too. Everyday on our walks Joker and I get serenaded...it's a harmony of ducks and geese actually. Can be very noisy sometimes...LOL
Pam,
Sounds like the same orchestra that plays at the Bronte Outer Harbour Marina, where we keep our boat....I guess they really get around!
Jo
Hi Jo...I understand these guys all come here to ride out the Winter in your Part of the World...who Told me?, the Ducks of course they are here now :O))
Jo
I dodge the ducks most days when walking along the Thames and I swear they swear back at me, if you know what I mean?
Ty
Fred,
They're the kings of opportunism and comfort....so Victoria would be a natural choice for wintering grounds...especially with you there doling out tasty treats and having long talks with them. ((((-;
Jo
Ty,
They're very feisty creatures, aren't they? They'd make great real estate agents...exceptt for the fact that they would encourage squatting where ever they go..
Jo
Jo - These are beautiful shots - I especially like the sharpness in the second one! Well done! You have offered info on the mallards I did not know, like the males lose their color out of the breeding season.
Debi
Jo - while we get Mallards in our "neighbours" back yard I did not know about the colour changes as we only see them as you have them pictured here in all their splendour.
Thanks Debi!
Coming from you that's a great honour...I would love to have half of your knowledge and photography talent.
Jo
Kathy,
In the summertime, at the marina and after the breeding season is over, we have mostly the brownish mallards....they've lost their green head feathers.
Jo
Kathy,
In the summertime, at the marina and after the breeding season is over, we have mostly the brownish mallards....they've lost their green head feathers.
Jo
Jo, what an interesting post. I had no idea that Mallards were all over the world.
Hi Jo..this is for Debi...Me too
Jo-Anne the clarity and resolution in your photo is fabulous!
Jo
The picture of that hen and drake pretty well sum it up for companionship. I am looking at this with my friend Linda and she made the comment about what you pick as subjects being so wonderful.
Jo, love the photos and I learned a few things about Mallards. They have always been a fave of mine. Beautiful photos. I really like both of them.....lovely!
Malcolm,
They're extremely common and interbreed almost everywhere!
Jo
Fred and Liz,
Thank you!
Jo
hi Tom,
Please say hi to Linda for me and Thanks!
Jo
hi Jeanean,
Do you have them in ponds down there too?
Jo