Mallard with Frog

Gallery: AvianPosted January 19, 201394 views6 comments

I've watched a LOT of ducks, especially Mallards, in my life, and I've never once seen a Mallard try to eat a Bullfrog! This hen tried to swallow this frog for over 5 minutes. Her mate never once tried to get it from her, but another female did. After alternately soaking it and then trying to down it, she eventually let it slip out of her mouth and the frog (definitely dead) slid underwater. The duck just swam off.

Canon 50d, 500mm w/1.4, Iso400, 1/1000, 5.6 LARGER version also provided. Thanks for your comments/critiques.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 19, 2013 at 9:51 PM

Fascinating!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 19, 2013 at 10:44 PM

Great catch of an interesting story. Bird behavior never ceases to amaze me.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 19, 2013 at 11:58 PM

Interesting natural histore and a great view of the pair.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on January 20, 2013 at 9:22 AM

Quite a moment of capture. Never seen anything like this before.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Lusk on January 20, 2013 at 1:21 PM

I just love seeing shots that gives a rare look at an uncommon behaviour, and this is something I, too, have never witnessed.

Thanks for showing us this!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 20, 2013 at 10:18 PM

Very interesting, I would have never guessed a Mallard to go after a bullfrog. The larger image looks good with both ducks in focus, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments