ETHOGRAM
MALLORY THE HUDSON
MONDAY LAB
11:00 LECTURE
PARTNERS: LAUREN HILL, HEATHER PRUITT
On my honor, I have neither given nor received
unauthorized help on this lab.
unauthorized
I. Introduction
Introduction
The Mallard or Anas platyrhynchos is a member of the family Anatidae and subfamily
Anatinae and is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Mallards are considered dabbling
ducks or surface-feeding ducks and are prevalent in North America (Sibley 190). During the
winter, Mallards usually stay in the lower half of the Mississippi Valley and commonly migrate
in early spring from the southern regions to cooler northern regions. Mallards usually go no
farther than Alaska during their migration north (Kortright 152). When nesting, Mallards
generally choose places that are dry but close to a body of water. Mallards have sometimes even
been known to nest in open prairies far away from any water (Kortright 153).
Both males and females of the species are beautiful birds, though the males are often
considered more attractive. Male Mallards are not hard to distinguish from other birds because of
their characteristic green head. Both have ornate feathers, but the males are more colorful than
the predominantly brown females. Mallards have smooth, rounded heads with a medium-sized,
slightly curved bill (Freethy 76). The feet of Mallards have four toes, three large toes and one
small toe on the back of the foot. The three larger toes are both longer and larger widthwise.
Each toe has a small, pointed claw at the end. The three large toes are connected by a thin piece
of scaly skin to help the ducks swim (Freethy 77).
Mallards are vegetarians for the most part, feeding on grasses, pondweeds, acorns and
many other forms of plant life. Mallards also feed on insects, small mollusks, and rotting fish in
some instances (Kortright 154). Mallards like acorns and some eat them to the point that
occasionally a bird takes so many that it is unable to fly (McAtee 720). Mallards are also known
to eat large quantities of mosquitoes and are important in controlling mosquito populations
across the country (Kortright 156). Mallards are both beautiful and beneficial to humans in
multiple ways.
II. Methods & Materials
Methods
This experiment involved observing Mallards and recording their behaviors. Materials
used in this experiment were a pair of binoculars, a clipboard and paper, pencils, and a laptop
computer equipped with Microsoft Excel. The ducks were observed at Prestwood Lake in
Hartsville, SC and at Cleveland Park in Spartanburg, SC. Weather during the observation period
was generally warm and sunny. There was a slight overcast some days, but never rain. All
observations were made during the afternoon, some time between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM. The
ducks were observed from a distance of ten to twenty feet. The group would decide on an
individual duck to watch. Two people observed the duck, one with binoculars and one without,
and one person recorded their observations. These observations were either recorded on paper
and entered into an Excel spreadsheet later or entered directly into the spreadsheet. If the subject
of observation was disturbed by humans, the results were excluded.
IIII. Results
II. Results
The following tables show the observed behaviors in their corresponding categories. The
first column states the name of the behavior. The second column includes description of the
behavior. The third column includes other specific notes taken about the behavior or insight into
the purpose of the behavior. For some behaviors, no additional information was recorded.
Aggressive Behavior
Behavior
Erect Head
Confrontation
Description
The duck raises its head and
stiffens its neck; usually watches
the intruder.
The duck stands and walks toward
the intruder to drive it away.
Additional Observations
This was observed mostly in
ducks with young.
This was only observed when the
intruder was small and not
dangerous, ex. bluebird.
Interaction/Courtship Behavior
Interaction/Courtship
Behavior
Bowing
Description
The duck moves its head down, but
still above the water, and then back
upwards to the original position.
Circling
The duck swims in circles around a
member of the opposite sex.
Bill Dip (Courting)
The duck dips its bill partially
underwater and then raises it to the
original position.
The duck lowers its head and
straightens its neck.
Lower Head
Pursuit
One duck leaves it current position
and follows another duck.
Raise Head
The duck raises its head into an
erect position.
Two ducks stay in one position
near each other in the water or on
land.
A duck in water shakes its feathers
and rises out of the water so its
breast is above the water.
One swims near or adjacent to
another duck.
Resting with Others
Shake Feathers/Raise Body
Swimming with Others
Additional Observations
This was often an interaction
between males and females and
was done in response to other
courtship behaviors.
This was usually observed when a
male left a group of females.
They followed and circled around
him.
Male ducks usually did this to
female ducks in the courting
process.
This was usually done by male
ducks and resulted in the female
ducks moving away.
This was usually done by females
pursuing males when the males
would leave.
This was usually observed
between two ducks of the
opposite sex.
This was usually observed in
males as part of the courtship
process.
This usually occurred between
ducks of the opposite sex.
Foraging Behavior
Behavior
Foraging on Land
Foraging Water
Tip-Up
Description
The in duck pecks and digs around in
an area with vegetation.
The duck eats plants near the
surface of the water.
The duck puts its head underwater
and turns upside down. The tail is
usually visible above the surface of
the water.
Additional Observations
Locomotion Behavior
Locomotion
Behavior
Flying
Description
The duck flaps its wings until it
rises out of the water or off the
ground.
Surfacing on Land
The duck swam toward the shore
until it could touch the bottom and
walked onto the shore.
The duck paddles underwater with
its feet to move forward on the
surface of the water.
The duck puts one foot in front of
the other to move across the land.
Swimming
Walking
Additional Observations
The ducks usually flew fairly
close to the surface of the water
(no more than ten feet above).
Flying usually happened when
the duck felt threatened or wanted
to relocate to another area.
This was observed less frequently
than flying to shore.
The ducks usually swam slowly
unless threatened.
Maintenance Behavior
Behavior
Bill Dip (Cleaning)
Description
The duck dips its bill into the water
and then proceeds to clean feathers.
Tail Feather Dip
The duck dips its tail feathers into
the water and then shakes them
dry.
The duck dips its head underwater,
raises it above water, and then
shakes it briefly.
The duck may or may not dip its
bill underwater and then preens its
flight feathers and the area under
its wings.
The duck tucks its head under and
preens the base of its neck and
breast.
The duck turns around and preens
its tail feathers with its beak.
The duck shakes its head from left
to right repeatedly for a brief
period.
After the duck comes onto land, its
shakes its feathers beginning with
the head and moving toward the
tail.
The ducks extends its wings and
flaps them in a back and forth
motion.
Head Dip
Preening Wings
Preening Neck/Underbody
Preening Tail Feathers
Shaking Head
Shaking Feathers
Shaking Wings
Additional Observations
This bill dipping was different
from bill dipping in the courting
process in that this was a part of
the cleaning process.
This usually followed the tail
feather dip.
Parenting Behavior
Parenting
Behavior
Defense
Description
The mother duck watches potential
threats and may move her young
away or confront the danger.
Imprinting
The young follow the mother and
imitate the mothers actions as
closely as they can.
Swimming
Additional Observations
This was observed twice, once
with a goose and once with a
bluebird. The mother moved
away from the goose and
confronted the bluebird.
This was observed in a group of
seven young ducks. They
imitated their mother actions
almost exactly.
The young ducks follow their
mother in the water. They usually
formed one or two straight lines
behind the mother.
Resting Behavior
Behavior
Bobbing Head
Erect Head
Floating
Lowered Head
Moving Head
Open Mouth
Sitting
Standing
Description
The duck repeatedly moves its
head up and down fairly slowly.
The duck raises its head and has
the neck in an erect position.
The duck stays in one position on
the surface of the water, usually
with its wings tucked in and head
tucked in or in a normal upright
position.
The duck lowers its head and tucks
it in.
The duck moves its head left to
right at a slow or moderate speed,
usually to survey its surroundings.
The duck briefly opens its mouth
partially or completely and then
closes it.
The duck has its body lowered to
the ground with its wings tucked
in. The head may be tucked in also.
The duck stands on the ground on
two feet.
Additional Observations
This usually occurred when the
duck heard a noise or perceived a
possible threat.
This usually occurred when the
duck didnt feel threatened.
Stretching Behavior
Stretching
Behavior
Neck Stretch
Leg Stretch
Wing Stretch
Description
The duck extends its head forward
and flattens its neck briefly.
The ducks extends one leg fully
while balancing on the other leg
and then proceeds to stretch the
other leg while balancing on the
previously-stretched leg.
The duck extends its wings fully to
each side and then flaps them
simultaneously a few times.
Additional Observations
IIV. Discussion
V. Discussion
In the brief observation period of this lab, a total of 41 different behaviors were observed.
The results of this lab are probably not very thorough due to the small amount of time it was
conducted in and the times of observation (all of the observations were during afternoon hours).
Because it is spring, mating should have been observed. Courtship behavior was observed,
however actual mating wasnt seen during our experiment.
Our group was surprised by some of our results. From our past experiences seeing ducks,
we expected most of their behavior to be locomotion. We were surprised to find that there were
more courtship and maintenance behaviors in ducks than locomotion behaviors. We were also
surprised by some of the courtship rituals of the Mallards. Overall, this lab was fun to conduct
and I learned a lot of new things about Mallards.
V. Literature Cited
Literature
Freethy, Ron. How Birds Work: A Guide to Bird Biology. Sterling Publishing Co. New York,
1982.
Kortright, Francis H. The Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America. The Telegraph Press.
Harrisburg, PA, 1967.
McAtee, Waldo Lee. Food Habits of the Mallard Ducks of the United States. U.S. Dept. Agr.,
Tech. Bull, 1918.
Sibley, David Allen. National Audubon Society: The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior.
Chanticleer Press, Inc. New York, 1961.