Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

These are the quintessential duck, taking the rank as the most abundant duck in the world. The mallard is the ancestor to most domesticated breeds of ducks and can be found in nearly every town in North America.

Males and females have distinct differences in their plumage displays; males having a glossy green head, white ring on neck, brown chest, black rear, and yellow bill, and females have a more muted plumage display of mottled brown with an orangish brown bill. Both sexes have a vibrant blue stripe or “speculum” on their wings. Other than coloration, males’ and females’ size and appearance is very similar; approximately two feet in length, two to three pounds, and having flat wide bills.

Mallards are known as dabbling ducks—they feed underwater by tipping forward and grazing. What makes these ducks so prevalent is their adaptability to almost any wetland environment and their wide range of preferred food sources. Mallards are omnivores and will eat seeds, stems, roots, insects, mollusks, tadpoles, frogs, earthworms, small fish, etc.