Mallards in trees

[5Cent]

Normal for ducks to land in trees lol? I leaned towards nope, but I'm wrong a lot, per my wife. And an internet search confirmed I was wrong.

I have been seeing a pair of ducks for a few years now leaving the small quarry north of our property, they'll make 1-2 circles and then land in the trees next to our home to the east. I remember the first time I saw it as I was drinking coffee on the back porch, I just shook my head and laughed. I have been trying to get video since. Well this morning's cup of joe and sunrise was the ticket!

I believe it's a Mallard pair but haven't been able to get close enough to make sure not wood ducks. Body size wise says Mallard.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Looks mallard sized and wing speed to me.

 

[5Cent]

 

[triple_duece]

Not to me. I’ve never seen a mallard in a tree in my life. Black bellies whistlers and wood ducks yes.

 

[Sgt Fury]

We’ve had many wood ducks land in trees around our house...including this year. Nearest pond is about 500 yards away but we have a lot of huge oaks and I guess they are finding good holes to nest in.

 

[Archertl]

Mom and i were talking about this yesterday. She has seen many mallards landing on the standing trunks of dead ash trees. My parents have a large stand of dead ash on their property. My mom is a birder so i an confident that she is identifying the mallards properly. The topped dead ash trees provide them with enough surface area to land. We thought it is possible that the abundance of dead ash trees may have an influence on this behavior.

 

[giles]

2020 has officially blown my mind.

 

[jagermeister]

That looks like a Wood Duck to me brother. In the second video you can see her longer tail.

 

[jagermeister]

Also doing the classic wood Duck butt wiggle after she lands. lol

 

[giles]

That looks like a Wood Duck to me brother. In the second video you can see her longer tail.

Do NOT mess with my emotions!

 

[5Cent]

Boooooooooo, lol. Thanks JB.

 

[Buckmaster]

My educated guess is woodies.