How long do mallards live?
The oldest Mallard on record lived to 29.1 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild mallards live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 29.1 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–13 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 19.7–25.6 in, 35.3–45.9 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 2 of 4
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Mallard can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Mallards usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 1–13 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 23–30 days to hatch.
How mallards compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other ducks and geese on this site.
- Canada Goose42 years
- Wood Duck22.5 years
- Hooded Merganser15.7 years
More about mallards
Frequently asked
How long do mallards live?
The longest-lived Mallard on record reached 29.1 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild mallards live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Mallard when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Mallard ever recorded?
29.1 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Mallard raise in a year?
Pairs lay 1–13 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info