Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Nonforested Landscapes

Nesting and Brood Rearing Habitats may be distributed over a COMPARTMENT and Migrating Habitat Requirements may be distributed over the NEIGHBORHOOD

Nesting Habitat:
      Sedge Meadow 
      or Grass 
      or Upland Brush 
      or Fields/Pastures 
      or Residential
 
Brood Rearing Habitat:
      (Any Open Water) 
adjacent to:
      (Any Emergent Wetland or Lowland Brush) 

Migration Habitat 1st alternative:
      (Any Open Water)
   adjacent to:
      (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Mast

Migration Habitat 2nd alternative:
      (Any Open Water)
   neighboring:
      Any Cropland

Habitat List:

view size class definitions

Literature:

The Mallard will establish breeding territories on a wide range of wetland habitats. Highest densities usually occur where there are abundant shallow marshes and ponds, but many birds also utilize lakes, rivers, and streams.

The nest is also indicative of the flexibility of this species. The nest site is usually well hidden on an upland site, with grass meadows and hayfields frequently used; however, nests have been located in forested areas, landscape plantings, elevated flower boxes and even the transoms of power boats.

Brood rearing areas are another critical habitat need. The nest is usually near the wetland used for courtship purposes. The ponds used in courtship often dry up, and the hen with her brood must travel overland to permanent water. Ideal mallard habitat consists of a permanent marsh surrounded by several small, shallow ponds.

Habitat: Breeding: Ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, wet meadows, wooded swamps. Prefers water less than 16 inches deep.

Shallow Habitat Requirements: Shallow water (less than 16 inches) that enables duck to bottom feed by tipping up.

Habitat: Marshes, wooded swamps, grain fields, ponds, rivers, lakes, bays, city parks. May occur in any kind of aquatic habitat, but favors fresh water at all seasons; only sparingly on coastal waters, mainly in winter on sheltered bays and estuaries. Most abundant in summer on prairie potholes and in semi-open country north of the prairies. Most abundant in winter on swamps and lakes in lower Mississippi Valley.

Diet: Omnivorous. Majority of diet is plant material, including seeds, stems, and roots of a vast variety of different plants, especially sedges, grasses, pondweeds, smartweeds, many others; also acorns and other seeds, various kinds of waste grain. Also eats insects, crustaceans, mollusks, tadpoles, frogs, earthworms, small fish. Ducklings may eat mostly aquatic insects.

Nest: Site may be more than 1 mile from water; usually on ground among concealing vegetation, but may be on stump, in tree hollow, in basket above water, various other possibilities. Nest is shallow bowl of plant material gathered at the site, lined with down.