Duck Facts

When I wrote Adventure to Faith River I had to do research on ducks/mallards.  Below are interesting facts I found about them. Every time I see them flying overhead, I send them a prayer and safe journey.

Duck Facts:

• Male ducks are called Drake
  
• Females called Hen
• Babies called Ducklings
• Ducks are monogamous
• Nesting: 5 white eggs inside nest.  The hen sits on them 4 weeks and she turns the eggs over four times to keep them warm.
• Predator to Duck eggs: Weasel, Foxes and Crows
  
• Predator to Ducks: Feared Marsh Hawk
  
• Molting: Every summer old feathers fall off while news feather grow back. Molting last 3 weeks and they cannot fly until the feathers are grown.
  
• Sounds they make: squeaks, chirps, grunts, groans, whistles, and growls.
  
• Difference between mallards and ducks: Mallard have more colors and Ducks are smaller with different colors not as colorful compared to mallards.
  
• If a predator is near by the female hen, she will pretend she is injured to protect her chicks.
  
• How to Tell the Differences Between Male or Female Duck
  

Resources: Mallard/Ducks