[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Forbidden love?
- To: Carolina birds <carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu>
- Subject: Forbidden love?
- From: Clyde Sorenson <clyde_sorenson@ncsu.edu>
- Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 11:03:47 -0500
- Organization: NCSU Dept. of Entomology
- Reply-To: clyde_sorenson@ncsu.edu
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
The wild wood duck drake that has been hanging out in the pond behind my
house since last summer has been avidly courting one of the feral
mallard hens on the pond, and it appears that she is responding,
although I haven't seen them attempt mating yet. (I've seen much mutual
bill-dipping, parallel swimming, head-tossing, etc. And the little guy
attacks drake mallards that get near her.)
I am still puzzled by the woodie's association with the hen; I wonder if
he and his apparent brother (who disappeared last fall) might not be the
product of dump-nesting by a hen wood duck into a feral mallard nest.
This male appears to be very strongly imprinted on mallards.
I will keep you posted should any bizzare little hybrid ducks show up on
the pond.
Clyde Sorenson
Clayton and Raleigh, NC
clyde_sorenson@ncsu.edu