Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Mallard is a common duck in ponds, lakes, and parks across most of the United States. Breeding males have glossy green heads and yellow bills, while females are mottled brown with orange-and-black bills. The familiar loud quack comes from the female; males make softer, raspy calls.

Appearance

Appearance: Adults are about 20–26 in (50–65 cm) long. A breeding male has a green head, yellow bill, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and gray body; a female is mottled brown with an orange-and-black bill.
Voice: The female gives the loud, familiar quack. The male makes softer, raspy notes.

Look-alikes

American Black DuckAnas rubripes

An American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) is darker overall and has a greenish-yellow or olive bill. Its purple wing patch lacks the broad white borders shown by a Mallard's blue wing patch.

Why they get mixed upIts size and shape closely match a female or nonbreeding male Mallard, and the two species often flock and .

Mottled DuckAnas fulvigula

A Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) has a plain buff face, a dark spot at the base of the bill, and no broad white borders around the wing patch. A female Mallard has a darker-marked face and a bluer, white-bordered wing patch.

Why they get mixed upBoth are large brown s, especially along the Gulf Coast and in Florida.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: ponds and lakes
marshes and flooded fields
city parks and estuaries
Range: Mallards occur across most of the United States. Northern breeders move south for winter, while some urban and birds remain year-round. They are among North America's most widespread and abundant ducks.
Seasonal presence: They are year-round residents in many areas and migrants in others.
Preferred conditions: They use almost any wetland, especially shallow water with nearby vegetation and open places to feed.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year · most records in Apr
250,305 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: They eat seeds, aquatic plants, waste grain, insects, snails, , worms, and other small animals. Animal foods become especially important during breeding.
Activity: A Mallard is a dabbling duck: it tips forward to reach food in shallow water instead of routinely diving.

Life cycle

Nest: The female makes a shallow ground nest, usually hidden in grass or other vegetation near water, and lines it with plant material and .
Clutch size: 1–13 eggs
Incubation: The female incubates for about 23–30 days.
Fledging: Ducklings leave the nest within about 13–16 hours and feed themselves while the female guards them; they first fly at roughly 52–60 days.

Name and classification

About the name: The wild Mallard has regional , including one in Greenland.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Status: Wetland loss, polluted water, oil, and ingested lead can still harm local birds.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: Domestic ducks are a separate domesticated form; nearly all breeds descend from the Mallard, apart from breeds derived from the Muscovy Duck.

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