Sounds of the Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Shortcut: k-QUACK-Quack-quack-quack

Song: The Mallard's typical quacking is given only by the female; it is often heard during the nesting season. When courted by males in the fall, females respond with loud quacks that decrease in volume and pitch: k-QUACK-Quack-quack-quack. Courting females also make a froglike cackle.

Call: The common call of the male is a soft, nasal rhaeb-rhaeb. Males also make grunting whistles during courtship.