Birds of the World describes the diet of Mallards as omnivorous, being mainly animal-based in breeding season:
"Omnivorous and opportunistic, generalist feeder. During breeding season <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/mallar3/cur/foodhabits#GAL1222490>, eats mostly animal foods, including insects such as midge larvae (Chironomidae) and other Diptera, dragonflies (Odonata), and caddisfly (Trichoptera) larvae, aquatic invertebrates such as snails and freshwater shrimp, and terrestrial earthworms. Outside of breeding season, diet predominately seeds from moist-soil plants, acorns (*Quercus* spp.), aquatic vegetation, and cereal crops (especially corn, rice, barley [ *Hordeum* sp.], and wheat [*Triticum* sp.]). Agricultural foods usually dominate diet during autumn migration and often during winter, depending on the relative availability of natural versus agricultural foods. In winter, urban Mallards often rely entirely on human-provided food, such as bread or seeds." Diana Beatty El Paso County On Fri, Aug 27, 2021 at 11:33 AM Nancy Stocker <[email protected]> wrote: > Mallards are apparently usually vegans, but a bit like some human vegans. > Faced with extreme decisions--survival or perhaps the offering of a > chocolate chip cookie that contains a tiny amount of egg, some human vegans > will remain true to their ideals, but others will choose to eat the morsel > at hand. Back when winter was extremely cold for long spells (1980s), I > photographed mallards eating a dead fish in Denver's Washington Park. Much > more recently, I photographed a mallard stealing pieces of a crayfish from > a muskrat who had laid out its meal on a rock in the middle of the South > Platte River. Survival was clearly the goal of the ducks in Washington > Park. I believe tastiness was the reason for the mallard stole from the > muskrat. > > Nancy Stocker > Denver, City and County > > On 8/27/21 2:20 AM, [email protected] wrote: > > [email protected] > <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/cobirds/topics> > Google > Groups > <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email/#!overview> > <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email/#!overview> > Topic digest > View all topics > <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/cobirds/topics> > > - Ornitherapy - CFO Speaker Series on Zoom September 4th 7pm > <#m_-6660713684110039587_group_thread_0> - 1 Update > - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Barr Banding Report, 8/25/21 > <#m_-6660713684110039587_group_thread_1> - 1 Update > - Bluebird ientification <#m_-6660713684110039587_group_thread_2> - 2 > Updates > - A Good Night for Soaring - Arapahoe > <#m_-6660713684110039587_group_thread_3> - 1 Update > - Magpie Flyby - west Centennial near Holly & Arapahoe, Arapahoe County > <#m_-6660713684110039587_group_thread_4> - 1 Update > - Mallard stealing crawfish from Grebes > <#m_-6660713684110039587_group_thread_5> - 2 Updates > - Calliope Hummingbird--Denver <#m_-6660713684110039587_group_thread_6> > - 1 Update > > Ornitherapy - CFO Speaker Series on Zoom September 4th 7pm > <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/t/678a43b4eb41c0e0?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> > Diana Beatty <[email protected]> <[email protected]>: Aug 26 > 05:19PM -0600 > > Colorado Field Ornithologists Speaker Series Presents: > > *Ornitherapy: for your mind, body, and soul* > Saturday September 4th 7pm > > Watching birds:not only fun, but good for you! > Watching birds can bring you more than enjoyment. > Come learn why birds are heart healthy! We’ll delve into our connections to > birds, how to practice Ornitherapy for optimal benefits, and learn about > the latest research into the power of nature for overall well-being. > > Register now: > > https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkceyppzIpH9AkLKi6_POo1tdCt23cQNsG > > > Diana Beatty > on behalf of CFO Board of Directors > El Paso County > Back to top <#m_-6660713684110039587_digest_top> > Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Barr Banding Report, 8/25/21 > <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/t/ff391548fa45c52?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> > Meredith McBurney <[email protected]> > <[email protected]>: Aug 26 04:07PM -0700 > > Another moderately paced morning. Our second adult male Blue Grosbeak, but > otherwise lots of HY birds. 22 new birds today: > > Mourning Dove 1 > Western Wood Pewee 1 > Willow Flycatcher 1 > House Wren 2 new, 1 banded 2020 > Yellow Warbler 4 > Wilson's Warbler 9 > Chipping Sparrow 1 > Clay-colored Sparrow 1 > Blue Grosbeak 1 > > We will be open 6 days a week, weather permitting through October 23. > Closed Mondays. Click here > <https://birdconservancy.doubleknot.com/event/calendar/4525> to register > to > visit - we are offering one-hour slots (up to 12 visitors at a time); > 7:30-8:30 most weekdays, and 8-9, 9-10, and 10-11 on weekends. We look > forward to seeing many of you during the season! > > Meredith McBurney > Bander, Barr Lake Station > Bird Conservancy of the Rockies > Back to top <#m_-6660713684110039587_digest_top> > Bluebird ientification > <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/t/97fa0290f70dc96f?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> > Dave Hyde <[email protected]> <[email protected]>: Aug 26 04:29PM > > Thank you all for your identification of this bird as an Eastern bluebird. > But this is not any E. bluebird! It is Yard Bird #100 for my location. I > was hoping to make it to 100 species here before we moved to Longmont in > August. We’re now moved, I have 100 species in just under 5 years here, and > I’ve enjoyed the house near Storm Mountain in Larimer Cty as one of the > best places I’ve lived to spot birds. Now I’ll see what pops up at our new > home near Lake McIntosh in Longmont! I’ve already seen a duck! Happy > Birding to us all – Dave Hyde/Longmont, CO > > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows > > From: Nicholas Komar<mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2021 2:35 PM > To: Dave Hyde<mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]> > Cc: Colorado Birders<mailto:[email protected]> > <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [cobirds] Bluebird ientification > > Dave, > > Orange throat = Eastern bluebird. Rare but regular breeders in Larimer > county foothills. > > Nick Komar > Fort Collins CO > > > > On Aug 25, 2021, at 1:34 PM, Dave Hyde <[email protected]> > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hello CObirders, > The attached photos show a bluebird (3 photos) and a typical Western > bluebird at my location near Storm Mountain in Larimer Cty. on June 3, > 2021. Can anyone advise me as to identification: Western or Eastern > bluebird? > Pleasant birding to you all – Dave Hyde/nr Storm Mtn. Larimer Cty. CO > > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows > > -- > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Colorado Birds" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en > * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include > bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate > * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Colorado Birds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]> > <[email protected]>. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CY4PR06MB32567768CB138D8DF9BDDD8EF5C69%40CY4PR06MB3256.namprd06.prod.outlook.com > < > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CY4PR06MB32567768CB138D8DF9BDDD8EF5C69%40CY4PR06MB3256.namprd06.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer > >. > <DSCF1403c.jpg> > <DSCF1408c.jpg> > <DSCF1409c.jpg> > <WBluebird-1ccc.jpg> > Scott <[email protected]> <[email protected]>: Aug 26 04:52PM -0600 > > Eastern > > On 8/25/2021 1:33 PM, Dave Hyde wrote: > > -- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > Back to top <#m_-6660713684110039587_digest_top> > A Good Night for Soaring - Arapahoe > <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/t/de43fbd56b382952?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> > Jared Del Rosso <[email protected]> <[email protected]>: > Aug 26 01:30PM -0700 > > An update: last night (8/25), about 20 Common Nighthawks flew southeast > (more east than south) over my house (just north of Arapahoe and > University) in Centennial (Arapahoe). It didn't seem like a migratory > flight; they were lowish and sort of feeding. But who knows. A few > potential destinations, nearby, are southeast: Holly Park, Willow Spring > Open Space, and the Big Dry Creek. > > Looking forward to autumn, but not to saying goodbye, for another half > year, to these birds. > > - Jared Del Rosso > Centennial, CO > > On Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 10:44:34 AM UTC-6 Jared Del Rosso wrote: > > Back to top <#m_-6660713684110039587_digest_top> > Magpie Flyby - west Centennial near Holly & Arapahoe, Arapahoe County > <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/t/b387cf427d475f28?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> > Jared Del Rosso <[email protected]> <[email protected]>: > Aug 26 01:27PM -0700 > > Driving around Centennial today (County Line and Arapahoe roads, east of > University in Arapahoe County), I'll say that wherever there was one > magpie > there were a dozen. On power lines, picking through yards alongside > flickers, in parking lots. Just lots and lots of magpies. > > - Jared Del Rosso > Centennial, CO > > On Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 5:01:07 PM UTC-6 [email protected] > wrote: > > Back to top <#m_-6660713684110039587_digest_top> > Mallard stealing crawfish from Grebes > <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/t/55c1a86d4798f6a?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> > "[email protected]" <[email protected]> <[email protected]> > <[email protected]>: Aug 26 12:11PM -0700 > > In the shallow bay at the end of the Boulder West trailhead yesterday, our > Boulder Bird Club group observed something very strange. A mother > Pied-billed Grebe was actively hunting and feeding what looked like small > crayfish to her three young (they still had head stripes). They were being > followed by a lone Mallard, which would aggressively pursue a young grebe > after it had been given the crawfish by its mother until it was able to > snatch the crawfish from the young grebe's mouth. The grebes would dive > and thus lose the Mallard for a moment, but as soon as it popped up, the > Mallard was after it again. This happened three times within 15 minutes. > I thought Mallards were vegetarians! > Peter Ruprecht <[email protected]> <[email protected]>: Aug 26 > 01:32PM -0600 > > What a fascinating observation. Per > https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/lifehistory , Mallards eat a > good deal of animal matter, mainly invertebrates, during the summer. In my > experience, it's rare to see them eat any critter that's bigger than a > half-inch or so. However, a couple years ago I watched in amazement as a > drake used its bill to dispatch a medium-sized bullfrog and then struggled > for several minutes to swallow it. > > Peter Ruprecht > Superior > > On Thu, Aug 26, 2021 at 1:11 PM [email protected] <[email protected]> > <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Back to top <#m_-6660713684110039587_digest_top> > Calliope Hummingbird--Denver > <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds/t/b0bf867ab6f643a1?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> > Robert Righter <[email protected]> <[email protected]>: Aug > 26 12:06PM -0600 > > Hi > > We just had a female Calliope Hummingbird come to our flowering pots on > our back porch. Quite aggressive. Came right up to my nose and began > buzzing around the face looking me in the eyes. Luckily, I survived. > > Bob Righter > Denver, CO > Back to top <#m_-6660713684110039587_digest_top> > You received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this > group. You can change your settings on the group membership page > <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/cobirds/join> > . > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an > email to [email protected]. > > > -- > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Colorado Birds" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en > * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include > bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate > * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Colorado Birds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/b5c2df14-730a-61e1-f4d3-4e1f92196fb4%40prairiewildlife.net > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/b5c2df14-730a-61e1-f4d3-4e1f92196fb4%40prairiewildlife.net?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- ****** All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAM-_j9t3%2BrbbUeGegm1EvvYXWBuZW3PLqu50YEEBD7DsOCzcHg%40mail.gmail.com.
