Mallards fighting.

[goodolpete]

Went for a walk with my better half this afternoon.
When we passed the millpond there were two drakes
and six ducks swimming about. The two drakes were
going at each other hammer and tongs, at one point
one of them held the others head under water for
thirty seconds.
Why do they fight at this time of year, its not the mating
season surely?
Do they ever kill each other? I know cock robins have
a lot of deaths due to fights.

[jackarmy]

Trying to pull the bird Pete, purely and simply fuelled by the luve ( or lust more like ) bug.
Balmy weather messing everything up

Global warming ?, hell no

[Scarlet]

Were there any young birds about? Mallards will protect their young. I've never kept ducks but chickens and turkeys will fight to the death to keep their ladies at any time of year.

[goodolpete]

None whatsoever - just this group of adults.

[Knight of Albion]

Probably one of the drakes has acquired himself a harem and didn't want the other drake muscling in.

Might also be a territorial issue if someone is feeding them.

[Guest]

The worst injury I have known a duck to get is loss of an eye. Ducks beaks don't really do any harm despite how much they think they do