The most widespread of the Duck Family, Mallard is familiar to many people. Say “duck” and Mallard, the largest of the Ducks comes to mind. Unlike most Ducks, He is not bothered by people. Mallard will nest anywhere there is water such as public fountains and parks.
Another example of Mallard’s uniqueness is how He exemplifies both Bergman’s and Allen’s Rules. At the Polar Regions, Mallard is larger than his Temperate Zone counterpart. Because his bill is vulnerable to cold, Polar Mallard has a smaller one.
Because of Mallard’s friendliness, He is the ancestor of today’s Domestic Ducks (except for the South American Muscovy). Archaeological evidence even suggests that Domestic Ducks were bred from Mallard before Chickens were domesticated. Even today, many species of Domestic Ducks still retain Mallard’s curly tail.
Wherever He goes, Mallard is easily recognized. People enjoy feeding He and his Friends at ponds. Because of his willingness to live near people, He has become well-known. Mallard teaches the key to popularity is friendliness and accessibility. Be like Him and have many friends.
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Science Notes:
1. Allen’s Rule and Bergmann’s Rule
These two rules give general guidelines to an animal’s body shape and size. According to Allen’s Rule, members of the same animal species will differ according to the climate where they live. An animal’s arms, legs, ears, and nose will be shorter in the cooler parts of their range. According to Bergmann’s Rule, geographic groups of a species will have smaller bodies in the warmer parts of their ranges. In the cooler parts, their bodies will be larger.
2. Collective nouns for groups of ducks: in water: raft, paddling. taking off: sord. in flight: team, brace, flight, flock. on the ground: brace.
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Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers
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