The student conducted a research project studying three species of waterfowl - Canada geese, mallards, and a mallard hybrid - at a lake located in York city. Over several weeks, the student observed and took photos to document each species' behavior, habitat use, and interactions with the urban environment. The report provides details on the identifying characteristics, behaviors, breeding, and habitat of Canada geese and mallards. It also discusses how mallards frequently hybridize with other species, and the challenges this can pose for waterfowl conservation.

1. The Waterfowl Identification Project
Nichole Fields
Professor Robert Swatski
Biology 130
November 16, 2012 (Fields, 2012)

2. Project Overview:
My project consisted of studying three
different species of waterfowl over a course of
several weeks. These species included the
Canada Goose, the Mallard, and a Mallard
hybrid. All of my research was done at a lake
located in the city of York. The lake is located
on a sort of man made island but is surrounded
by buildings, noise, pollution, and people.
However, all three species seem to thrive in
this habitat with plenty of shelter to offered to
them among trees, and an abundant natural
food supply, as well as, whatever scraps
humans throw to them. While there I studied
each of the species behavior, habitat, and
interaction with the urban environment. I
combined and compared this information with
some thorough research.
(Fields, 2012)

3. The Canada Goose
(Fields, 2012) Branta canadensis
A familiar and widespread goose that has a black head and neck with a
white chinstrap. The chest is cream in color and its back is brown (“Canada
Goose,” 1). The Canada Goose is a common breeder from interior Canada
and Alaska south through most of the U.S., nesting near wetlands of many
sorts, even in urban settings (Brinkley, 58). It winters on farmland, in
wetlands, and even on golf courses (Brinkley, 58).

4. Behavior: Canada Geese feed by dabbling in the water or grazing in fields and large lawns (“Canada Goose,” 1). They are
often seen in flight moving in pairs or flocks. The flocks often assume a “V” formation (“Canada Goose,” 1).
Habitat: Just about anywhere near lakes, rivers, ponds, or other small or large bodies of water, and in yards, park lawns,
and farm fields (“Canada Goose,” 1).
Breeding: Canada Geese mate for life, and pairs remain together throughout the year (“Canada Goose,” 1). They mate
“assortatively,” meaning larger birds choose larger mates, and smaller ones choose smaller mates (“Canada Goose,” 1).
The male is usually larger than the female, and most Canada Geese do not mate until they are four years of age (“Canada
Goose,” 1).
(Fields, 2012)

5. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue
“speculum” patch in the wing (“Mallard,” 1).
Behavior: Mallards are “dabbling ducks,”
meaning they feed in the water by tipping
forward and grazing on underwater plants
(“Mallard,” 1). They almost never dive, and
are very tame ducks especially in city ponds,
and often when grouped together with other
species of dabbling ducks (“Mallard,” 1).
Habitat: Mallards can live in almost any
wetland habitat, natural or artificial
(“Mallard,” 1).
Breeding: Mallard pairs are generally
monogamous, but paired males pursue
females other than their mates (“Mallard,”
The Mallard
1). The pairing takes place in the fall, but Anus platyrhynchos
courtship can be seen all winter (“Mallard,”
1). Only the female incubates the eggs and
takes care of the young (“Mallard,” 1).
(Fields, 2012)

6. The male, or drake, is more distinctively
colored in the mallards (“Mallard Duck,” 1).
The male Mallard has a dark, iridescent-green
head and a bright yellow bill (“Mallard,” 1).
The gray body is located between a brown
breast and a black rear (“Mallard,” 1). The
males are territorial during much of the
incubation period, but later on leave the nest
and join a flock of other males (“Mallard
Duck,” 1).
(blmiers2, 2012)

7. Females and juveniles are mottled
brown with orange and brown bills
(“Mallards,” 1). When making a nest, the
female forms a shallow depression or
bowl in moist ground, and pulls any
vegetation that she can reach toward her
while sitting on the nest (“Mallard,” 1).
Females normally lay about a dozen
eggs, and the incubation period lasts
about a month (“Mallard Duck,” 1). After
incubation begins, the female plucks the
feathers from her breast to line the nest
and cover her eggs (“Mallard,” 1).
(Haslam, 2007)

8. Mallards like other ducks, shed all their
flight feathers at the end of the breeding
season and are flightless for 3-4 weeks
(“Mallard,” 1). They are secretive during
this vulnerable time, and their body
feathers molt into a concealing “eclipse”
plumage that can make them hard to
identify (“Mallards,” 1).
(Fields, 2012)

9. Waterfowl crossbreed more than any other
family of birds (Cross, 1). Scientist have
The Mallard Hybrid…..
recorded more than 400 hybrid combinations
among waterfowl species. Mallards crossbreed
with nearly 50 other species (Cross, 1). Nearly
20 percent of waterfowl hybrid offspring are
capable of reproducing (Cross, 1). In general,
hybridization is rare because each waterfowl
species has unique characteristics that serves
as barriers to interspecies mating (Cross, 1).
These characteristics include distinct physical
attributes, behaviors, life-history requirements,
and an unique ecological niche the species
occupies (Cross, 1). But breeding grounds and
territories of many waterfowl species overlap
presenting opportunities for interspecies to
mate (Cross, 1).
(Fields, 2012)

10. Hybridization can potentially lead to the extinction of species (Cross, 1). A process known as introgressive
gene flow occurs when individuals of two species mate and produce offspring, which then mate with the
sensitive parent species, and essentially contaminate the pure genes of that species (Cross, 1). Mallards are
highly aggressive breeders, and several cases involving mallard hybridization with closely related species
(Cross, 1). Mallards are highly aggressive breeders, and there are several cases involving mallard
hybridization with closely related species present waterfowl biologists with conservation challenges (Cross,
1).
(Fields, 2012)

11. Many waterfowl hybrids may be unable to attract
a mate because they are not recognized by
individuals of either parent species as their own
kind (Cross, 1). Hybrids often exhibit
intermediate physical characteristics and
behaviors that render them unable to attract a
mate (Cross, 1). Male hybrids in particular, may
not have the ability to perform courtship rituals
necessary to establish and maintain pair bonds
(Cross, 1).
(Fields, 2012)

12. Works Cited:
Brinkley, Edward. Field Guide to Birds of North America. National Wildlife Federation. New York: Sterling, 2007.
Print.
“Canada Goose.” All About Birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. n.d. Web.
5 Oct.2012. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/lifehistory.
“Canada Goose Branta Canadensis.” National Geographic Society. n.d. Web.5 Oct.2012.
<http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/canada-goose/>....
Cross, Jennifer. “Waterfowl Hybrids.” Ducks Unlimited. n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2012.
http://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-biology/waterfowl-hybrids.
“Mallard.” All About Birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2012.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/id.
“Mallard Duck Anus platyrhynchos.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society. n.d. Web. 5 Oct.
2012. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/mallard-duck/.

13. Works Cited: Images
Blmiers2. “Male Mallard.” Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 22 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Ducks 1.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Ducks 2.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Canada Goose 1.” Photograph. 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Canada Goose 2.” Photograph. 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Mallard Couple.” Photograph. 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Ducks 3.” Photograph. 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Mallard Hybrid 1.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Mallard Hybrid 2.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Mallard Hybrid 3.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Haslam, John. “Female Mallard, rear view.” 18 Oct. 2007. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.

14. Works Cited: Video
“Geese Fly Together.” 15 Sept. 2009. YouTube. Web. 16 Nov.
2012.
“Mallard Duck.” 13 Oct. 2011. YouTube. Web. 1 Dec. 2012.
“Mallard Hybrids Filmed at Jubilee Lakes on 02/04/12.” 4 Apr.
2012. YouTube. Web. 1 Dec. 2012.