Mallard

Sexually dimorphic. The breeding male (drake) has a distinct glossy green head, a white neck ring, chestnut-brown chest, grey flanks, and a black rear with curled tail feathers. Females (hens) and eclipse-plumage males have mottled brown and buff camouflage plumage. The individual in the image appears to be a female or a male in transition/eclipse plumage, showing mottled brownish feathers and a yellowish-green bill.

Blue-purple speculum wing patch bordered with white stripes (visible in flight), wide flat bill, and rounded head.

Length: 50-65 cm (20-26 in); Wingspan: 81-98 cm (32-39 in); Weight: 720-1,580 g (1.6-3.5 lb).

Females produce the classic loud, descending quack sound. Males produce a quieter, lower-pitched raspy grunt or whistle.

Omnivorous. Forages mainly by dabbling (tipping up to feed on underwater plants) on the water's surface or grazing on land for seeds, stems, roots, insects, snails, and small fish.

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

Partial migrant. Northern populations are migratory, flying south for the winter, while temperate and urban populations are largely resident.

Nests on the ground hidden in dense vegetation, often some distance from water. Lays a clutch of 8-13 greenish-buff eggs. Incubated solely by the female for about 26-28 days. Ducklings are precocial and follow the mother to water shortly after hatching.

American Black Duck and Mottled Duck. Distinguished by the mallard's white tail borders, distinctive male breeding plumage, or the female's brighter orange-tinted bill.

Acts as an important seed disperser for aquatic plants and helps control invertebrate and mosquito populations. They are also a key prey species for many medium to large predators.

Least Concern, with a very large and stable global population.

Easily observed at almost any local pond, lake, or slow-moving river. Approach slowly if you want to avoid startling them, though urban mallards are often quite habituated to humans.

Mallards are the ancestors of nearly all domestic duck breeds (except the Muscovy duck). They are also known to readily hybridize with other duck species.