Calls
- Calls
Recorded by Arthur A. Allen
- Female quack
Recorded by William W. Gunn
Alberta, CanadaMay 1976
- Female decrescendo call
Recorded by Arthur A. Allen
New York March 1956
- Female quack in flight
Recorded by Gregory F. Budney
New York April 1995
- Male courtship calls
Recorded by Arthur A. Allen
New York March 1956
- Male courtship calls
Recorded by Arthur A. Allen
New York March 1956
Courtesy of Macaulay Library
© Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
The quintessential duck’s quack is the sound of the female mallard. Females often give this call in a series of 2–10 quacks that begin loudly and get softer. When courting, she may give a paired form of this quack. The male does not quack; instead he gives a quieter, rasping, one- or two-noted call. Ducklings make soft, shrill whistles when alarmed.
Backyard Tips
If you have a pond or marshy area on your property Mallards might be attracted to your backyard. Occasionally, Mallards have been known to show up in people’s swimming pools.
Find This Bird
Look for Mallards at local city or suburban parks, where they’re likely to be accepting food handouts from humans. If you want to see them in a more natural setting, visit a nearby pond or lake—Mallards are likely to be the ducks you most frequently see.
Get Involved
You can help scientists learn more about this species by participating in the Celebrate Urban Birds project.