Subject: Re: Duck Rape
Date: Jan 24 12:46:36 1996
From: Dennis Paulson - dpaulson at ups.edu


>At 01:05 PM 1/23/96 -0800, you wrote:
>>We've seen this behavior before, too, but we've noticed a peculiarity.
>>When a male mallard "forces copulation" with a female mallard, she goes
>>through contortions while excessively washing herself. It almost seems
>>as if the female mallard is trying to wash away the bad effects of the
>>assault. ....
>
>The males do that as well. I haven't been able to figure out the reasoning
>yet. They do seem desparate to clean themselves, though.

My guess would be that there is a certain amount of feather disarray caused
by all the bodily contact, and they are attempting to put everything back
in order. Or maybe they're just taking a shower afterward.....

Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416