common mallard

The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a common wild duck found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and is the ancestor of most domestic ducks. These dabbling ducks feed on plants and small animals in shallow waters like ponds and rivers.12

The male mallard, or drake, is recognizable by its iridescent green head, white neck ring, and white, gray, and black body. Females, or hens, have a mottled brown and yellow appearance. Both sexes share a yellow bill and a distinctive blue wing bar bordered by white. While females quack, males produce whistles and nasal calls.1

Mallards are known for their elaborate courtship rituals. They build nests from leaves and grasses, often in fields or tall grass, and the female incubates the eggs. The ducklings hatch synchronously and are capable of flight within about two weeks. Mallards belong to the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and swans.123