Mallard
Mallards, scientifically known as Anas platyrhynchos, are among the most familiar and widely recognized duck species in the northern hemisphere. The male mallard is particularly noted for his vibrant green head, yellow bill, and distinctive white collar, making him easily identifiable compared to the more muted female. These ducks typically inhabit shallow inland bodies of water such as lakes, marshes, and rivers, and they also adapt well to environments close to human activity. Mallards are omnivorous, feeding on aquatic vegetation, small fish, and insects through dabbling and upending techniques.
Breeding generally occurs in April and May, with females laying 9 to 13 eggs in nests that may be located on the ground or even on rooftops. Although both parents may form monogamous bonds, the male often leaves after mating to seek other females. Ducklings are precocial, jumping from their nests shortly after hatching and following their mother to water. Despite facing predation from various animals, mallards are not considered a threatened species and can live up to 29 years in the wild, although their average lifespan is closer to 5-10 years. Interestingly, only female mallards quack, while males produce whistles and grunts.
On this Page
Mallard
Mallards are among the most widespread and numerous of all bird species and are also one of the most recognized and popular of all the duck species. The male mallard is recognized both for his lovely, bright-green head and for being the largest of all the duck species.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Species: Platyrhynchos
A familiar sight in many habitats across the northern hemisphere is the mallard duck. The mallard most often inhabits shallow inland bodies of water, such as rivers, reservoirs, marshes, lakes, and ponds. During migration, it may also rest on seas. Although it is wild, the mallard is comfortable living near human beings, and sometimes becomes quite bold as it approaches people for food.
The male mallard is perhaps more easily recognized than the female due to his colorful plumage during much of the year. The bright green head, yellow bill, and white collar line are likely his most distinguishing features. The male's breast is dark brown, and his wings and back are lighter brown. His belly is gray, and on his wings are patches of blue and white. The female also has some blue and white patches on her wings, but the rest of her head and body have dark brown markings on light brown feathers. During the winter, the male molts, or loses, his colorful plumage and looks similar to the female. Mallards are 20 to 25 1/2 inches (50 to 65 centimeters) long. Mallards weigh between 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 pounds (up to 1 1/2 kilograms).
Mallards are omnivores, or animals that eat both plants and meat. Mallards feed by dabbling and upending. Dabbling means that they feed on or just below the surface of the water and sift food from the water with their bills. When mallards upend, they tip their bodies so that their heads can reach farther underwater while their tail feathers point skyward. Through these two methods, the mallards feed on both large and tiny vegetation in the water, as well as on small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects. Mallards may also graze on the land for grasses, seeds, grains, potatoes, and several other foods. People and mallards are no strangers to each other since people often like to feed the ducks, and the ducks are very willing to eat the bread, popcorn, and other items people offer.
Many mallards form monogamous pairs. Most pair bonds last only for one season, although others may mate a few years in a row. Mallards typically mate in April and May. After mating and when the female begins incubating her eggs, the drake, or male, leaves and may mate with other females or join other males to feed. Each female lays nine to 13 eggs in her cup-shaped nest. Four weeks of incubation hatch the chicks from their shells, and the chicks then follow their mother to the water. Most nests are on the ground, but they may also be in tree holes or on the roofs of buildings. Ducklings born above the ground jump to the ground without getting hurt when they leave the nest. Foxes, rats, pike, weasels, and certain birds eat more than half of all the ducklings each year. Those that do survive mate when they are one year old and may live to be up to 29 years old. The average life span for mallards is closer to five to 10 years.
Only female mallards quack. Males whistle and grunt instead of quacking.
Mallards are not a threatened species.
Bibliography
Barnes, John. “Mallard Overview.” All About Birds, 2024, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/overview. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.
Kürthy, Alexander. “Mallard - Facts, Diet, Habitat, & Pictures on Animalia.bio.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/mallard. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.