These six cute mottled ducklings are relatives of the mallard. Parents create a simple nest by making an indention in the grass and mom lines it with down. Nests are located near marshes, lakes, & wetlands. Breeding can start as early as January & as late as July. Clutch size is from 5-13 with the ducklings leaving the nest soon after hatching. The numbers of mottled ducks has declined 79% since 1966 because of hybridization/ cross breeding with introduced mallards.