Question:

Are there any duck species in which the male helps to rear the young after they hatch?

-Carmen DeLeon

Answer:

For most ducks, females are saddled with the responsibility of incubating eggs and raising their young. However, the drakes of some species share parenting duties with their mate, or even rear the brood alone. Male parenting behavior is shown in a wide variety of ways, from taking turns incubating eggs, to guarding the nest and young from predators.

In North America, Fulvous and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are the only species that show male parental care.  These drakes alternate with their partners during incubation. For their South American relatives, the White-faced Whistling Duck, it is not uncommon for males to incubate for the majority of the time in addition to defending the nest from predators.

While no North American dabbling duck drakes take part in brood rearing, dabblers elsewhere do.  In South Africa, Cape Teal fathers guard their brood after they hatch. Several South American dabbling duck males also remain with their brood for several days.  Chiloe Wigeon drakes of Chile and Argentina have even been seen defending the young of other species.  But, the most surprising displays of male parental care have been shown by Brazilian Teal drakes, which have been known to rear broods by themselves while their mate begins a new nest.

-Darren Wiens, M.S. Candidate