Mallard (Female)

Females have mottled brown and buff plumage designed for camouflage while nesting, featuring a dark crown, pale face, and a distinct orange and brown mottled bill. Males (drakes) have a bright green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and grey body.

Mottled brown body, pale orange-and-brown bill, dark eyestripe, and blue speculum patch on the wings visible in flight.

Length: 50-65 cm, Wingspan: 81-98 cm, Weight: 700-1600 g

Females produce a loud, descending quack. Males produce a softer, quieter muffed quack or whistle.

Omnivorous; feeds on plant matter, seeds, roots, insects, small fish, and amphibians by dabbling or tipping up.

Found in a wide variety of wetlands, including lakes, rivers, marshes, ponds, estuaries, and urban park waters.

Partial migrant; northern populations migrate south for winter, while temperate and urban populations are year-round residents.

Builds a shallow depression on the ground hidden in dense vegetation near water, lined with down feathers. Clutch size is typically 8-13 eggs, incubated solely by the female.

American Black Duck and female Northern Pintail. Mallards can be distinguished by the white borders on the blue speculum wing patch and paler overall body coloration.

Acts as an important seed disperser for aquatic plants, helps control aquatic invertebrates and vegetation, and serves as prey for various predators.

Least Concern, with stable and widespread populations globally.

Easily observed in almost any freshwater body, urban park, or wetland. Approach slowly to avoid startling them, and look near emergent vegetation.

Mallards are the ancestors of almost all domestic duck breeds (except the Muscovy duck) and frequently hybridize with other duck species.