The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has completed its 2026 waterfowl breeding population survey. Data indicates that mallards, the most abundant duck species in the survey, nearly maintained their 2025 population estimate.
The breeding population of mallards is estimated at 267,101, a 1% decrease from 2025. Total ducks (all species combined) decreased from 482,358 to 435,937 (a 10% decrease). Mallards remain below the long-term average by 18%.
“Abundant April rains combined with carryover water from 2025 allowed favorable habitat conditions for nesting ducks. Average production is expected for most duck species in northern California,” said CDFW Waterfowl Program Biologist Melanie Weaver.
CDFW biologists and warden pilots have conducted this survey annually using fixed-wing aircraft since 1948. The population estimates are for those areas where the vast majority of waterfowl nesting occurs in California, including wetland and agricultural areas in northeastern California, throughout the Central Valley, the Suisun Marsh, and some coastal valleys.
The complete 2026 California Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey Report (PDF) is available at the CDFW website.
The majority of California’s wintering duck population originates from breeding areas surveyed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Alaska and Canada, and these results should be available by late August. CDFW survey information, along with similar data from other Pacific Flyway states, is used by the USFWS and the Pacific Flyway Council when setting hunting regulations for the Pacific Flyway states, including California.
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Media Contacts:
Melanie Weaver, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 502-1139
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858