Mallard

The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks. It can be found throughout most of North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. It is the most common and widespread duck. It can be found in almost any area with a wetland habitat, even in urban areas.

Mallard
Mallard female (front) and male (rear)
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Subfamily:	Anatinae
Genus:	Anas
Binomial name
Anas platyrhynchos

Anas platyrhynchos

Description

The mallard is a large and heavy looking duck. It has a body and a long and a broad bill. The male has a dark green head, a yellow bill, is mainly purple-brown on the breast and grey on the body. The female is mainly brown with an orange bill.

Habitat

It breeds in all parts of the Europe in summer and winter, wherever there are suitable wetland habitats. It is scarcer in upland areas.

Mallard Media

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  An American black duck (upper left) and a male mallard (lower right) in eclipse plumage

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  One male, one female mallard fledgling (Anas platyrhynchos) by a pond of the Jardin des Plantes, Paris.

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  Close up of a Drake Mallard's Head

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  Mallards are among the most common bird species to exhibit aberrant colouration, typically due to genetic mutations. The female pictured here is leucistic; leucism in birds often results in 'cream-coloured', 'apricot' or muted feathers on certain parts of the body.

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  Drake mallard performing the grunt-whistle

• Female mallard with five ducklings

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  Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden

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  Duckling()

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  Female mallard swimming with her brood of ducklings

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  A male mute swan (Cygnus olor) driving off a female Mallard.

• Several drakes swimming in a pond

• A mallard (male) eats rolled oats from the hand.