I guess we’ve gotten too familiar with mallards, Dennett, as they’re the most common duck by far in south central PA. And being common, we tend to notice the, um, “special” members of the species, like the ones on Deb’s campus who lay claim to mud puddles and defend them from intruders. (“Dude. It’s a puddle. You aren’t even floating, you’re just standing on the bottom and pretending you’re floating. Lady ducks are *not* going to be impressed.” Response: “Quack!” [in a very self-impressed way that I translate as “Ladies dig me, and they dig my cozy pond. I am a babe magnet!”]) Because: #malebehaviorisuniversal.