Newfoundland and Labrador · Year-round resident

Mallards in Newfoundland and Labrador

When mallards are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.

Ducks and geese (Anatidae)MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
Year-round resident
Nesting window
April–June
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–6b

When to expect mallards in Newfoundland and Labrador

Mallards live in Newfoundland and Labrador all year. Long, snowy, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador

Across Newfoundland and Labrador, mallards typically nest from April–June. Plan around that window: March for setup, June for clean-out.

Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.

  • Mallards don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, red maple, willow (bebb) for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract mallards

Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 5 provide food or cover mallards use:

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Red maple
Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

Willow (Bebb)
Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch
Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Feeding mallards through the Newfoundland and Labrador year

  • Top foods: Cracked corn, Duck pellets.
  • In Newfoundland and Labrador's winter: Long, snowy, windy winters.

Full diet breakdown for mallards · Best feeder for mallards

Frequently asked

Are mallards in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?

Yes. Mallards are year-round residents in Newfoundland and Labrador.

When do mallards nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 1–13 eggs, incubated for 23–30 days.

What native plants attract mallards in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Paper birch, Red maple, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for mallards.

Mallards in other regions

Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador

Sources

  1. Mallard — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Mallard life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Mallard — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. Audubon Native Plants Database

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.