These fights can be deadly, they are 100% trying to eliminate each other. This one was a very evenly matched fight though, points decision maybe. Coots are by far the most aggressive birds during mating season, they will attack anything that goes remotely close to their nests. This causes a lot of chaos with ducklings being separated from their mothers etc Saw this happen to a Tufted Duck last year, 2 of her ducklings ended up with a Mallard mum after it! She was busy trying to fight the Mallard to re-claim them, at the same time they were both trying to protect ducklings from a seagull making many swoops down. I feel bad for the female ducks as the next few months will be very stressful and dangerous for them. The males are very unlikely to offer any help either.

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