Although small, by domesticated duck standards, the Mallards are by no means the smallest of the wild duck varieties. The Wood ducks and Mandarins are smaller yet and just as “easy going”. It seems sometimes that the smaller the duck the bigger the attitude, because they can really fling that ‘tude near and far. Mallards are bright and adventurous, always seeking some new fun and new trouble to get into. Definitely not loners, Mallards will go everywhere and do everything as a noisy, squawking group, usually led around by the bravest female.
The little female has a big voice for her size and is a Queen of the true quacking ducks. Her voice is higher pitched than those of the bigger domesticated ducks, but is usually twice as loud. The quack of a female Mallard is beaten only by that of the female Call duck, which has an even higher pitch and gets her name from the fact that duck hunters have used her kind for centuries to call down other ducks. The Mallard drake, on the other hand does not quack, but simply “hiss-quacks” like all varieties of drakes. Unlike most drakes, however, the little Mallard is much more talkative and will voice his opinion to all passers-by.
Domesticated ducks are difficult to herd anyway and will resist being forced to enter a barn, even if for their own good, but the Mallard definitely has a mind of its own when it comes to resistance. They will split up, knowing you can't follow all of them at once and go in separate directions, usually under trees so you have difficulty going in after them. Most domesticated ducks seem to lose this irritating ability to evade and hide, but the smaller, wilder ducks retain the ability in spades.
The Mallard hen is a flirt, and will dance the “I'm too sexy” dance with any and every drake she sees, not caring which particular breed he happens to be. But if that drake takes an interest in her she will suddenly run off quacking repeatedly at the top of her lungs with her bill held wide open, with her wings flapping in an effort to run even faster. If he chases her, the quacking and running full throttle will continue for hours, until she either gets tired or lets him catch her. If, during the chase the drake loses interest or gets tired, she will stop quacking, waddle to his side and start the mating dance all over again. It seems that the Mallard hen is insatiable.
She's also fussy in her own way. The acceptance of a certain drake and the rejection of another looks exactly the same from the viewer's position, but the little hen knows exactly what she's doing. She's playing the two drakes off one another, hoping one of them will begin a battle over her. If he does, then she will happily select him as her mate, at least for the time being anyway. These chase scenes go on day after day and can really worry the duck keeper because you cannot tell if the hen is in danger or if she is having fun. It does not look like fun but if you try to interfere, then she gets mad and comes at you with her bill open in a silent threat. (A Mallard's idea of looking mean and powerful)
Despite their quirks, and weird behaviors, the Mallard is a delightful duck, smart and playful, and always very opinionated. They are typically the first out of the barn in the morning and the last to go back in at night, and are always up to no good and having the time of their lives in the process. Long live the little Mallard!
http://www.quazen.com/Recreation/Birding/The-Adventuresome-Mallard.890
