The mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a common waterfowl species across the Northern Hemisphere. These adaptable birds are frequently observed in diverse aquatic environments, from urban parks to vast wetlands. Understanding their natural diet provides insight into their ecological role and how to coexist with them.
The Mallard’s Natural Menu
Mallard ducks are omnivorous, meaning their diet naturally includes both plant and animal matter. Their diet primarily consists of plant material, including seeds, stems, leaves, and roots from aquatic and terrestrial plants. They consume seeds from grasses, sedges, pondweeds, and smartweeds, alongside acorns and other tree seeds. Mallards also forage on waste grains like corn, wheat, barley, and rice found in agricultural fields.
Beyond vegetation, mallards also eat animal matter for protein. Their diet includes invertebrates like insects (e.g., midges and dragonflies), small crustaceans, snails, and worms. They may also consume small fish, fish eggs, and tadpoles. Young ducklings rely heavily on aquatic insects for initial growth, gradually incorporating more plant material as they mature.
Seasonal Shifts and Foraging Habits
A mallard’s diet adapts throughout the year, influenced by seasonal food availability. During the breeding season (spring and summer), their intake of protein-rich animal matter, such as insects and aquatic invertebrates, increases to support egg production and duckling growth. As warmer months transition into autumn and winter, their diet shifts to become more reliant on energy-dense plant materials, including seeds, acorns, and agricultural grains.
Mallards use distinct foraging behaviors. They are classified as “dabbling ducks,” primarily feeding by tipping their bodies forward in shallow water, submerging their heads and necks to reach submerged plants and invertebrates while their tails remain visible. They also “up-end” to access food in slightly deeper water. On land, mallards graze on grasses and pluck seeds, demonstrating versatility in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Habitat type, such as wetlands versus agricultural fields, also dictates specific food items.
Harmful Foods to Never Offer
Feeding mallard ducks common human foods, especially bread, can be detrimental to their health. Bread provides minimal nutritional value, like “junk food,” leading to malnutrition as it fills ducks without essential nutrients. Consuming too much bread can result in “angel wing,” where wing bones develop improperly, causing feathers to twist outward. This deformity can make flight impossible and reduce their insulating properties, often proving fatal.
Other problematic human foods include chips, crackers, popcorn, and sugary items, lacking nutritional balance. These items can cause digestive issues, obesity, and other health problems. Overfeeding also leads to overcrowding, increased aggression among ducks, and can contaminate water with uneaten food, fostering disease spread. If individuals choose to offer food, safer alternatives include defrosted peas, corn, oats, birdseed, chopped lettuce, or sliced grapes. These options more closely mimic a duck’s natural diet.