Maybe I have not paid enough attention, but in all my outdoor adventures over the years I have never seen or heard of Mallards nesting in trees. Since my local morning coffee shop is closed for the time being, I have been having my morning coffee at a local park that is close by my work. I took this picture this morning . Is this a common practice for Mallards?

I have never heard of a mallard nesting in a tree.
Of course, I have missed a lot over the years.
Not a woodie?

GraniteCliffs: "I have never heard of a mallard nesting in a tree.
Of course, I have missed a lot over the years.
Not a woodie?"

Sure looked like a mallard. It was in a group of ducks, on the lake with a bunch of Drake Mallards when it flew in the nest. I’ll try to get a positive ID tomorrow...

Wood Duck nest in cavities. This duck is on a stick built nest much like heron would build. Maybe it's using a heron's abandon nest.

Could be a number of ducks that will land in a tree. That landing might simply be a resting spot, not a nesting spot. Looks like a mallard head but woodies will simply sit in a tree.

It is social distancing... (sorry)

He is not nesting, just a drake up on his perch looking for a suzie to fly by. Around the lake here they sit on rooftops,trees or a good vantage point looking for a good time. This behavior is more typical of local "park ducks" rather than the more wild migrating ducks which have been pair bonded for a couple months now and before they migrate back north.

Rare but they are adaptable and will nest in a tree. video

GraniteCliffs: "Could be a number of ducks that will land in a tree. That landing might simply be a resting spot, not a nesting spot. Looks like a mallard head but woodies will simply sit in a tree. "

This is the most likely scenario - mallards are ground nesters for sure.

I have never seen one nest in a tree, I have seen them perch in the trees here from time to time, pheasants also...

Did you know Elephants paint their toenails red so that they can hide in Cherry trees?

Have you ever seen an Elephant in a Cherry tree? They hide good, don't they?

My parents had em nest one year in their big maple tree. The hen would be up in her nest and the drake would follow my dad around the yard. Those two had quite the conversations. When it came time to leave the nest, down they came and off mama would lead them off to the river. After that they always nested behind the bush by their front door. And every year that drake followed my dad around the yard and quaking up quite a story. This is in Bloomington... not in country where like I live. But yeah, I’ve seen it.