Mallard Chaperones

 

American Wigeon

At Halibut Point, almost any time you see a dabbling (surface-feeding) duck it either is, or is in the company of Mallards.

Ring-necked Duck, juvenile male

In part that may be because Mallards are more numerous than any other kind of duck, so they have a wing up on the prime habitat.

Green-winged Teal

But they're also not territorial nor competitive by nature. They make room for others.

Black Ducks, lower left

In the case of Black Ducks, Mallards commingle to the point of occasional inter-breeding.

Gadwall pair with Mallard pair

This can also be true of the closely related Gadwalls that stopped for a rest at the quarry this winter.

Female Pintail, foreground

Similarly this Pintail must have felt sufficiently reassured by the flock of Mallards to join them for a couple of days. Ordinarily it would frequent a pond with more vegetation than a deep water granite quarry.

The Pintail at the center of the Mallards

The fact that most of the singular 'guests' are females or juveniles gives further credence to the conclusion that Mallards are a reassuring presence for other ducks.

Juvenile Greater Scaup, in the water

Occasionally even diving ducks like this Scaup find the Mallard contingent companionable.

Female Common Merganser

A visiting Merganser found reassurance on the quarry pond by the escort of a Mallard drake.