Duck Romance

On the left, a male black duck. On the right, a female mallard. 

The duck couple I wrote about two weeks ago was mating on the pond in Brooklyn Bridge Park again today, Sunday, March 10, 2013. Click here for the previous blog.   

I photographed some of their courtship postures last time. Today I took a few shots of copulation, which is brief and happens in the water. They ended their courtship displays with mutual head-pumping. Then she extended her head and got low and flat in the water.

The male stepped onto the female's back. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see her head below the surface. 

Grabbing her neck or feathers helps him keep his balance. 

He maneuvered his tail under hers to make genital contact. Above water we see a single thrust. 

It was over in moments. He stepped off. She floated up.  

She enjoyed some post-copulatory splashing. 

Ta Da!