Migrational Behavior of Mallards and Black Ducks as Determined from Banding

Abstract

Large scale banding of migratory ducks in the United States first occurred in Illinois. The objectives of the analysis presented in this paper were to determine: a) the migration patterns as shown by band recoveries from mallards and black ducks, b) the variation in migration patterns of mallards banded at various localities in the Mississippi Flyway, c) the degree of variation in migration patterns of mallards from year to year, d) the period of time mallards remain at a given area on the flyway, and e) the chronology of migration in the mallard as shown by band recoveries.