THE MALLARD 



By EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH 



TOf i15ationaI Si&dociation ot ^auDubon feocictieg 



EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 36 



(Issued also as Special Leaflet Xo. 19 1 



The Mallard is the wild duck par excellence. It is the progenitor of many- 

 varieties of domesticated ducks, and probably exceeds in numbers of individuals- 

 any other species of duck, besides being one of the largest and handsomest of the 

 duck family. It is one of the best of all ducks on the table, and considering its- 

 numbers and quality it is regarded as of greater economic value than any other of 

 the wild ducks. 



In North America the Mallard breeds normally over the 

 Its Range northern half of the United States, west of Pennsylvania, includ- 



ing Alaska, and in all the British Provinces west of the longitude 

 of Hudson Bay; also in Greenland. East of Hudson Bay and throughout New 

 England and the Middle Atlantic States its place is taken largely by the Black 

 Duck. It breeds very rarely, if at all, in this region; but its breeding range in 

 the far West extends south to New Mexico and lower California. 



The Mallard remains in the North until the ponds and rivers freeze, when it 

 begins its southward journey. It migrates mainly north and south. The vast ma- 

 jority of the Mallards spend the winter in the Gulf States, in northern Mexico 

 and along the Pacific coast. But some go southeast in autumn, reaching southern 

 New England and the Atlantic seaboard. 



The Mallard requires special protection, for it is not usually 



Its ^^cst &nd • - 



So prolific nor so sagacious in keeping out of danger as is its 

 eastern prototype, the Black Duck. Its nest is usually placed on 

 the ground near a marsh or in a tussock of grass, and more rarely among the 

 bushes on some near-by hillside. It is composed mainly of coarse grasses and 

 weeds and often lined with down from the mother's breast. The large, smooth 

 eggs are dirty greenish white, bluish white, pale cream, buff, yellowish drab, "or 

 some similar dingy color," and vary ordinarily from six to ten in number (Hatch 

 states that in Minnesota the Mallard deposits from ten to twelve eggs). The 

 young when hatched soon take to the water where they are watched over and 

 defended by the female. 



Its Food and I-Jke all fresh-water ducks the Mallard is largely a vegetarian, 



Economic but it prefers soft, succulent vegetable matter when such is to be 



^■'"^ found, and probably cannot thrive without a considerable ration 



of animal food as well, of which all our wild ducks are fond. This bird becomes of 

 considerable economic value to the farmer at times because of the nature of its food. 

 It sometimes attacks sprouting or ripened grain, but like most fresh-water fowl 

 it is undoubtedly of service in destroying such insects as the locusts and armv 



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