Canvasbacks – Is It Love Or Is It War?

When it comes to Canvasback agonistic behavior appearances can be deceiving.

This is one of the oldest photos in my portfolio. It was taken at Glover’s Pond in Farmington on April Fool’s Day, 2008 which seems appropriate given the misleading poses and behavior of both birds. I’ve posted other photos of each of these ducks but this one is new to Feathered Photography.

 

1/1600, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in

Even though at first glance these two ducks may look quite different from each other they’re both adult male Canvasbacks in breeding plumage. They look different because the male on the right had been feeding by diving to the bottom of the pond and sticking his entire head into the mud as he probed for submerged plants and aquatic insects. When he’d pop up onto the surface his head was usually entirely covered in mud. I had a blast for over half an hour photographing Ol’ Muddy Head while he was feeding. Among other things I loved the way his scarlet eyes stood out against his muddy face.

Suddenly the male on the left rushed in and they began their typical ritualized aggressive behavior of pushing against each other chest to chest as they collectively turned in a clockwise circle. It may look like they’re cuddling but the opposite is true and it was hilarious to watch. After much pushing and turning a serious fight eventually broke out and even though Ol’ Muddy Head appears to be smaller he was victorious and chased the other male away.

I’m not sure if the root cause of the fight was defense of feeding territory or typical aggression between males during breeding season. Ol’ Muddy Head was apparently paired up with a female that had been feeding close to him so it could have been either or both.

I had so much fun with Canvasbacks that morning I’ve been looking for them on Glover’s pond in early spring for twelve years now but I’ve never had a repeat performance.

Ron

 

21 Comments

  1. Unbelievable!
    Great shot, and wonderful post.
    Love the comments!

  2. Wonderful photo!

  3. I guess the phrase “get ready to tango” can have opposite meanings and seems apropos of this pair.
    The video would be revolting if it weren’t so fascinating.

  4. Ol’ Muddy Head and his “buddy” certainly were tricky that day. I do hope you get another chance with perhaps the various F1, F2, or F3 (not sure of lifespan of the species) of either of these two.

    That video is somethin’ else — especially when one considers penile length relative to body size. Ouch! Definitely not designed “for her pleasure!”

  5. Appearances can be deceiving. And in this case they most definitely were.
    Small is often more feisty in my experience (and frequently more aggressive too).
    Corkscrew penis? Shudder.

  6. Well bless your pea-pickin’ heart! And no, I’m NOT saying that in the dismissive Southern way, but in the real old-fashioned Red Skelton way. You made me go to the dictionary to look up the meaning of a word. I haven’t been there in a while.
    My pre-coffee brain read agonistic as agnostic and I struggled to figure out how that would work in this context. After reading your text, I figured it had to be along the lines of combative, so I had to look it up. That’s when I discovered it wasn’t agnostic at all (I’d had half a cup of coffee by then…LOL!)! So, thanks for adding a new word to my vocabulary!! In addition to the OUTRAGEOUSLY beautiful images, you almost always satisfy my learn-something-new-every-day mandate and I SO appreciate that!! THANK YOU!!
    As for ducks’ violent mating activities, I’ll bet it has something to do with that corkscrew penis and what the HECK is up with that? LOL!

    • Good! about the new word, Laura. I can tell you’re like me – see a new and unfamiliar word and we have to look it up. I’m not saying I always remember it but I do investigate it.

      Just the thought of the corkscrew shaped penis of ducks makes my eyes water…

    • I’m going to assume that ducks are not deists, but I could be wrong. 😉

  7. Everett F Sanborn

    Interesting Ron. I see them frequently during the winter here, but have never seen them in action. What I have seen in duck behavior that I am always amazed at is the Mallard’s mating behavior in the spring. The first time I saw it many years back I was shocked. I thought these males I was watching were trying to drown the females by viciously pushing them under the water etc. Obviously no harm done because every spring you see the females swimming along with anywhere from five or six to over ten little ducklings closely following along.

  8. It is fun to see “Old Muddy Head”, the difference in appearance between them and the fact they weren’t “snuggling up”. “A bird in the hand…” thing…..😀

    50 this morning – a REAL chinook – and snow mostly gone…..

  9. Arwen Professional Joy Seeker

    Old Muddy would make a decent Halloween costume!

  10. I remember Ol’ Muddy Head.
    “I’ve never had a repeat performance.” I learned this lesson the hard way during my early bird photography life. Too many times I decided to come back another day when conditions were better or for other reasons only to discover Mother Nature is not static.

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