Mallard

Males (drakes) have a metallic green head, yellow bill, and white neck ring. Females (hens) are mottled brown with a dark eye stripe and orange-and-black bill. Both have a blue-purple wing patch (speculum) bordered with white.

Metallic green head (male), white neck ring (male), blue-purple speculum with white borders (both sexes).

Length: 50-65 cm; Wingspan: 81-98 cm; Weight: 0.7-1.6 kg.

The female produces the classic loud 'quack'; the male has a quieter, rasping 'rab' or 'kwek' sound.

Omnivorous; eats aquatic plants, seeds, insects, small crustaceans, and occasionally small fish or grain from fields.

Wetlands, lakes, rivers, marshes, and urban ponds. Highly adaptable to human-altered landscapes.

Partial migrant; many populations remain resident if food and water are available, while northern populations move south for winter.

Nests on the ground near water, often hidden in vegetation. Clutches average 8-13 eggs. Only the female incubates and cares for ducklings.

American Black Duck (darker plumage, no white on speculum edge) and Gadwall (smaller, square head, white wing patch).

Key member of wetland ecosystems; acts as a seed disperser and is a primary prey species for various predators including raptors and mammals.

Least Concern (IUCN); population is stable and very large.

Easily observed in city parks, ponds, and lakes; look for the curled black tail feathers on males to quickly identify them even at a distance.

Mallards are the ancestor of almost all domestic duck breeds. They are famous for 'dabbling'—tipping tail-up to reach underwater food.