I see them doing it under my birdfeeders by the pond. Sometimes the duck being chased just calmly walks away and the chaser does too and sometimes the one being chased zooms off into the air like it's scared. The chaser often looks like it is snapping at the other one, trying to bite the other's tail. Usually it's a male doing the chasing of other males, but not always. Can anyone give an explanation of this, please?
2007-11-03 08:08:49 · 7 answers · asked by BlueManticore 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
If they are around a birdfeeder it is because of food. The more aggressive ducks are chasing others away so they have more for themselves. Those that fly off might still be young or really weak and not wish to fight or those that walk off might just be smart enough to wait their turn.
You can see the same behavior in many animals when it comes to food.
2007-11-03 08:15:33 · answer #1 · answered by The Cheshire 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ducks have "squabbles" when in a group...it is quite common to see a duck get angry w/ another and give chase, and to bite and pull at the other's feathers; It is usually the female duck that will take flight when scared, to get away from another...their fighting is never vicious, and is actually very amusing to watch...
2007-11-03 08:20:32 · answer #2 · answered by GUARD DOG 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If its a male duck chasing another male duck, its usually a "fight" for dominance over a female duck, as in "get away, she is mine". It can also be to establish a 'pecking' order as in "i'm the boss around here and don't forget it"..
2007-11-03 08:23:30 · answer #3 · answered by diver_dad37 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are doing the nature thing and passing the strongest genes on to the next gen. If one has any kind of deformity, the others will kill it. It's nature's way. They are also very territorial, I've seem mallards roll goose eggs into the water to get rid of them. On the other hand I have had mallards sit on and hatch chickens.
2007-11-03 08:26:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called determining the pecking order.
Through this method it determines who is the dominate, the 2nd, 3rd etc. within a flock of birds.
The dominant birds tend to have firsts on food, mating etc.
2007-11-03 08:16:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have ducks... they are showing domination.
2007-11-03 09:32:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Teen's will be teen's. Duck's will be duck's. <}:-})
2007-11-03 08:15:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋