Mallard Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Female calls
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New York, April 09, 2006Recorded by Mike Andersen / Macaulay Library
Female calls
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New York, April 08, 2018Recorded by Brad Walker / Macaulay Library
Male calls
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Norðurland eystra, June 02, 2018Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Female calls
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New York, August 24, 2009Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, April 09, 2020Recorded by valerie heemstra / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, March 22, 2017Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Display
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New York, February 02, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

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.

Other Sounds

Males make a rattling noise by rubbing the bill against the flight feathers in a special display that resembles stylized preening. This display is given toward a mate and presumably helps maintain the pair bond.