About Mallards
Ducks are familiar residents of many urban and suburban parks across the Commonwealth. There are 16 duck species that breed in Massachusetts, and dozens of others can be spotted outside of the breeding season.
Of the 16 breeding species, the Mallard is the most commonly seen or encountered.
Identification
Male Mallards are easily identified by the lustrous green head, while the more demure female is brown. They can be seen in parks and ponds in large numbers in fall and winter, but will break off into pairs when breeding season comes.
Life Cycle
While some Mallards will choose a nest site near the water, it is not uncommon for them to nest as far as a mile from the nearest water. The nest is usually on the ground hidden by vegetation, but occasionally they will select a site on a stump or even in a basket.
The nest is a shallow bowl of vegetation lined with down. The hen lays one egg per day and will only incubate sporadically until the clutch is complete, typically from 7-10 eggs. The drake often leaves the pair at this point.
Ducklings hatch after 28 days and are born precocial, meaning that they are able to walk, swim, and feed themselves almost immediately after hatching. The hen then leads the young to the water, leaving the nest for good. Ducklings stay with the hen until they can fly at roughly two months old.
In late summer, after the brood has become independent, the adults will molt, making them flightless for a period of time. Massachusetts Mallards are likely short-distance migrants—if they migrate at all.
Food
A Mallard's primary diet consists of vegetable matter such as grains, acorns, and aquatic vegetation. But in the breeding season, their diet shifts to encompass more animal matter such as insects, snails, minnows, and shrimp.
Situations & Solutions
Mallards thrive in developed areas, where they occasionally come in conflict with people. They may swim in backyard swimming pools, nest in fenced-in areas surrounding pools, or nest under foundation plantings next to houses. When a female nests within a fenced-in area, problems can arise due to the fact that the ducklings are unable to fly until they are about 60 days old.
When a female nests within a fenced-in area, problems can arise due to the fact that the ducklings are unable to fly until they are about 60 days old. Additionally, people are often tempted to feed ducks and geese.
Ducks & Swimming Pools
During the winter, rain and snow may accumulate on the covers of swimming pools, along with leaf litter and debris. This creates a temporary habitat for aquatic invertebrates come springtime.
Owners of swimming pools often discover that a pair of ducks—almost always Mallards—has taken over this newly created pond and is eating the invertebrates. Here's what to do if you encounter this situation >
Ducks Nesting in Enclosed Areas
Female Mallards often nest in enclosed spaces such as the courtyard of a building or a fenced yard (most often with a swimming pool). Though the mother duck is able to fly in and out of the area, the newly hatched young cannot escape. Although they can walk immediately after hatching, they are unable to fly for approximately the first 60 days.
Once the ducklings hatch, gather several people together and slowly and quietly herd them toward an exit. If the only route is through a building, place the ducklings in a shallow box and slowly carry it outside. The female may follow if she can hear her offspring. Place the box on the ground—if the mother’s nearby, tip the box so the young can run out and join her.
If she is not present, place the box on the ground and wait out of sight for her return. If you noticed that the female always flew out of the enclosure in the same direction while she was tending to the nest, put the box on that side of the building.
Don’t Feed the Waterfowl
Giving food to ducks and geese can create many problems for birds and the environment. Both Mass Audubon and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW) discourage it. Find out why feeding ducks & geese is not recommended >
Ducks, Geese, & the Law
Many of the birds we encounter are protected in some way by local and national laws. Learn more >
Ducks & the Law
Many of the birds and animals we encounter are protected in some way by local and national laws. Learn more >