Editing Duck (section)

===Breeding===
[[File:Parrulo -Muscovy duckling.jpg|thumb|A [[Muscovy duck]]ling]]
Ducks generally [[monogamy in animals|only have one partner at a time]], although the partnership usually only lasts one year.<ref>{{Cite book | doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4|chapter = Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl|title = Current Ornithology| pages=187–221|year = 1988|last1 = Rohwer|first1 = Frank C.| last2=Anderson| first2=Michael G.| isbn=978-1-4615-6789-9}}</ref> Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Cyndi M. |last1=Smith |first2=Fred |last2=Cooke |first3=Gregory J. |last3=Robertson |first4=R. Ian |last4=Goudie |first5=W. Sean |last5=Boyd |title=Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks |journal=The Condor |year=2000 |volume=102 |issue=1 |pages=201–205 |doi=10.1093/condor/102.1.201 |doi-access=free |hdl=10315/13797 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions ([[spring (season)|spring]]/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a [[bird nest|nest]] before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed [[courtyard]]) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wildliferehabber.com/content/if-you-find-duckling|title=If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber|website=wildliferehabber.com|access-date=2018-12-22|archive-date=2018-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923152911/http://wildliferehabber.com/content/if-you-find-duckling|url-status=dead}}</ref>