Mallards do eat fish.

[MN Shutterbug]

I had heard of it, but never seen it. Years ago I was told that the reason hunters prefer mallards over diving ducks like shovelers, is because mallards eat vegetation and therefore taste better. Are things changing or were we just dummies back then?

[DonBo]

Maybe she's just giving it a good thrashing?

Nice catch!

[jwmiller33]

cool pic! is that a shiner?

[yakfisher]

I like sushi. Why wouldn't she? Nice series, that's pretty cool.

[Jim Almquist]

My guess is that she is giving up the vegan lifestyle

Nice capture of a interesting series.

[dukhnt]

Neat photos. I have seen that numerous times as well over the winter. There is no food for them in the snow covered fields so I guess they will take what they can get to survive.

Here is one eating a small bullhead or catfish I took last January.

[goblueM]

i suspect its a lot like rabbits and birds eating off carcasses in the north woods - its not necessarily their first choice but its a great source of nutrients during the hard winter months

[eyeguy 54]

I wonder what PETA would say about these nasty ducks? LOL

[ThunderLund78]

My sister actually accidentally caught a mallard while panfishing with a crappie minnow once. Poor thing gutted it, we had to cut the line. Keep an eye on them if they're nearby and you got a line in.

[mcary]

Mike,

I have plenty of mallard shots where they are eating frogs. I think they tend to be a bit more omnivorous than people realize. I watched a group of young ducks one summer taking turns catching frogs. They'd chase each other trying to steal it away whenever one of the others would catch one.

[Paul]

I spent a couple of days a 2 years ago shooting at the Black Dog lake area and watched as dozens Giant Canadien Geese, swans, and Mallards ate fish, then the Eagles ate them.