Mallard Duck
Mallard Duck
Anas platyrhynchos
The Mallard is a common and widespread duck that breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe and Asia. It can also be found in Central America and the Caribbean, and has been introduced into Australia and New Zealand. It is now the most common duck in New Zealand. It is probably the best-known of all ducks.
The Mallard is 56-65 cm length, with an 81–98 cm wingspan, and weighs 750–1000 g. The adult male is unmistakable, with a green head, black rear end and a blue feathers under their wings, edged with white. Males also possess a yellow bill with a black tip. The female Mallard is light brown, with a similar pattern of blue feathers under the wings. Females also have a dark brown bill.
Mallards can be found in most wetlands, including parks, small ponds and rivers, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing. It nests usually on a riverbank, but not always particularly near water.
It is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks. They are exceptionally fast flyers for their size, reaching speeds of 65 km/h (40 mph).
This is a noisy species. The male has a nasal call, whereas the female has the very familiar "quack" always associated with ducks. Mallards frequently interbreed with the American Black Duck.
Have you ever seen a Mallard in you area? What kind of habitat was it in?
