The sounds produced by ducks and geese are considered calls rather than songs because these sounds are short and instinctive in nature. Ducks and geese use these sounds as a means of communication in a variety of situations as a primary means of conveying information.
Males and females of most species of waterfowl produce distinctively different calls because of the physical differences in the trachea and the syrinx. This is especially true of mallard ducks. The hen (female) mallard duck produces a quack, while the drake (male) produces a low grunt-whistle which sounds like raehb-raehb-raehb.
The range of calls produced by a hen and drake mallard, as with most waterfowl, are somewhat limited. Often the same call is used in a variety of situations. For example, a simple hen mallard quack can communicate contentment, loneliness or danger. Additionally, the calls produced by mallard ducks can be used to coordinate flight when preparing for migration, leaving the roost for feeding grounds or escaping potential life-threatening situations. Mallards will also give preflight calls to one another to signal their intent to change locations.
Mallard ducks tend to be less vocal in the late summer and early fall. As the fall progresses and the migration begins these same ducks become increasingly vocal. Approaching weather fronts as well as high and low pressure systems can also have an impact on the amount of calling done between mallard ducks.
Mallard ducks are extremely social and gregarious creatures. They love to be part of the crowd. As the old saying goes "Likes Attracts Likes". During the fall migration, mallards will congregate in huge numbers at key staging and refuge areas as they travel through the different flyways. Many of these key areas will hold tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of mallard ducks at one time. In Arkansas for example, there are specific counties that have held as many as one million mallard ducks when habitat and migration conditions are ideal.
When viewing a flock or group of contented mallard ducks you may notice many of the following characteristics. In many instances you will notice ducks tipping up and down as they feed, wings being flapped and stretched and splashing as they chase each other around. The majority of the group will have a low profile contented head position. Low profile head positions are those of dabbling, resting, preening, sleeping or contented ducks. There will always be some members of the flock that have upright heads to watch for danger. The more upright heads that are in the group, the more wary and alert the group is to danger.
Mallard ducks that are in areas that have a high degree of hunting or predator pressure will often seek safety in remote out of the way places. Streams and creeks, beaver ponds, secluded backwaters and small potholes can be magnets for these wary birds as they spend their day in isolation and safety before they head back to their roost for the evening.
Feathers are composed primarily of keratin, the same substance that comprises our finger nails and hair. Frequent preening and bathing are vital to the health of the feathers. While preening the mallard duck squeezes oil from a gland at the base of their tail onto their bill and methodically spreads the oil across their plumage. Since mallard ducks can't reach their heads and necks with their bills, they rub oil on them from their bodies and then work the feathers back into place with their feet. Regular bathing helps to cleanse the plumage of dirt, debris, and external parasites.
Most ducks, including mallard ducks, undergo two body molts each year. During mid summer into early fall their plumage is very drab and basic. As the fall and winter progress hormonal and dietary changes cause the plumage to become a brilliant breeding or alternate plumage. Caring for this plumage is of the utmost importance.
We suggest that you go back and reread the article in its entirety. Now that you're reading it for the second or third time pick out the key pieces of information that will help you become a more successful mallard duck hunter.
Here's an example of what we're talking about. Why is it important to understand changes in plumage? For one thing it will help you determine what color your decoy spread should be which is dependent on the time of the year your hunting.
That's just one little nugget of information that you'll find to help you become a more successful mallard duck hunter.