Courting behaviour

[Jersali]

I watched these Mallard mating today and thought it was a little unusual for the time of year
Is it normal behaviour for this or other birds (re-affirming relationships perhaps)?

[aeshna5]

I have seen this behaviour at this time of year, but certainly not on a regular basis. If you saw the more recent Autumnwatch series they showed a new brood of Mallards at Slimbridge + I think there was a similar brood at the London Wetland Centre. Some years ago I saw a young brood just before Xmas at Slimbridge. If the weather turns severe there's a greater chance of chick mortality though.

Some birds such as various pigeon species can breed through the year though broods are less common now. Other species such as Crossbills + Mistle Thrushes will begin breeding very early in the year.

Many duck species that breed in more northerly latitudes that winter here pair up in the winter so that no time is wasted when they return to the short breeding season. This mating you've seen may be affirming the pair bond.

[Jersali]

Thanks Aeshna,
great detailed response, much appreciated

[Dogghound]

Mallards usually start to form pairs around September onwards, this pair formation often includes copulation even in September and through the winter. However this copulation is not functional and no insemination occurs. Functional and increased copulation starts to occur around february and march.

Less likely but still possible is functional copulation and they are mallards which are either domesticated or are genetically related to domestic ducks, bred to produce more eggs. Also birds which hatch early in the year are more prone to breed later on in the same year.