A behavioural comparison of domestic and mallard ducks. Spatial relationships in small flocks

Abstract

This paper includes part of a large study in which the behaviour of the domestic duck is compared with that of its progenitor, the mallard duck. The distances between individuals in flocks of either domestic or mallard ducks were studied during feeding and resting. The distance between birds when feeding at which there was a 50-50 chance that the two birds would tolerate one another or show agonistic behaviour was investigated. This distance was found to be influenced by the time of day, sex of the bird, and its individuality. When both birds were mallard drakes this distance was 45·7 cm, and it was 30·5 cm when both were mallard ducks. With mixed sex mallard pairs it was 17·8 cm. In domestic ducks this distance was 0 cm when both birds were females or when the sexes were mixed but 30·5 cm if both birds were drakes. During resting the average distance between birds was 129·5 cm for the mallards and 77·5 cm for the domestic ducks.