UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey. 
E. W. NELSON, Chief. 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER. December 23, 1918 
FOOD HABITS OF THE MALLARD DUCKS OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 
By W. L. McAtee, Assistant Biologist. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
PRtLOGUCHION -s oes anes epee a a aa ee ace f |S Southern' black @uck-2 2... .Sccdeccanasceccce 14 
Ic EEUT Ey Bee eae ape Tee 2 SS ee 2 | Items of vegetable food identified. .....__...- 16 
iBigek GUCK= - =e eee ee eee ase ee 10 | Items of animal food identified___-_________. 24 
a 
INTRODUCTION. 
A knowledge of the natural feeding habits of mallard ducks is of 
value in connection with the propagation of the species in a semi- 
domesticated condition, as these ducks are used more commonly for 
this purpose than are any others. It is especially useful also in rela- 
tion to the improvement of bodies of water and marshes as feeding 
grounds for wild ducks.* 
The wild ducks ordinarily occurring within the United States are 
at present considered to represent 39 species, distributed among 22 
genera. They are divided into three groups: The mergansers 
(Merginz), known also as fish ducks, or sawbills; the river ducks 
(Anatine), also called shoal-water, puddle, or tipping ducks; and the 
sea ducks (Fuliguline), also called deep-water, or diving ducks. 
Although food preferences vary in each of these groups, those of the 
mallards are fairly representative of their group—the river ducks. 
The mallard genus, Anas, comprises three species which are among 
1 For specific information on this topic see Bull. 205, U. S. Dept. Agr., Eleven Important Wild-Duck 
Foods, in which are discussed musk grass, duckweeds, frogbit, thalia, water elm, swamp privet, e@igrass, 
widgeon-grass, watercress, waterweed, and coontail: pp. 25, figs. 23, May 20, 1915; also Bull. 465, Propaga- 
tion of Wild-Duck Foods, in which are discussed wild rice, wild celery. pondweeds, delta potato, wapato, 
chufa, wild millet, and banana waterlily; pp. 40, figs 35, Feoruary 23, 1917. 
Note.—This bulletin presents a technical study of the food habits of three species of mallard ducks: The 
mallard, the black duck, and the southern black duck. The vegetable food preferences exhibited will serve 
as a guide to certain wild-duck foods that may be propagated when it is sought to increase the numbers of 
- these valuable game ducks, either in the wild state or in domestication. 
64336°—18—Bull. 720——1 
