Mallard

Adult males (drakes) feature a iconic glossy bottle-green head, a white neck ring, chestnut-brown chest, greyish wings and flanks, and a black curled tail feather. Females (hens) are mottled brown with a yellowish-orange and black bill, providing camouflage.

Blue-purple speculum wing patch bordered with white, orange-and-brown mottled body (in females), and characteristic dabbling posture.

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

The female produces the classic loud, descending quack, while the male makes a softer, quieter, low-pitched kwek-kwek sound.

Omnivorous; feeds on plant materials, stems, seeds, roots, insects, small fish, and crustaceans by dabbling or tipping up.

Wetlands, marshes, shallow lakes, rivers, ponds, estuaries, and urban parks with access to water.

Partial migrant; northern populations migrate south for winter, while temperate populations are largely sedentary year-round.

Nests on the ground hidden in dense vegetation near water. Lays a clutch of 8 to 13 greenish-buff eggs incubated solely by the female for about 27-28 days.

American Black Duck and various domestic duck hybrids, distinguished by bill color and subtle plumage pattern differences.

Acts as an important seed disperser for aquatic plants and serves as prey for various predators, contributing to wetland nutrient cycling.

Least Concern, with stable or increasing global populations.

Look for them in virtually any body of fresh water, including urban parks, lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers. They are often habituated to humans.

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