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Mallard Anas Platyrhynchos

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Mallard

Appearance:
Male - The male Mallard has a metallic green head and neck with a narrow white ring on the lower neck, a reddish-brown breast, brown/grey back, and pale grey abdomen and flanks. The rump and tail coverts are black, the centre of the tail is black and curled upwards and the sides of the tail are white. The speculum is blue-purple bordered by black and then white feathers. The beak is yellow or olive-green, and legs and feet are orange.
Female - The female Mallard is a mottled brown colour with the purple, black, and white bar on the wings. The female also has a pale eyebrow with dark stripe through the eye, a dark crown and hindneck, and olive-brown beak.
Eclipse - The male in eclipse plumage is similar to the female but has a darker crown and nape, and a redder breast.

Male
Female
Eclipse

Size: - Typical Adult is 56-65cm (22-26in).

Food: - Mainly aquatic vegetation, also occasional aquatic insects, and tadpoles.

Habitat/Range: - Wetlands, parks, rivers, and ponds. It is naturally found in subtropical and temperate areas throughout the northern hemisphere across North America, Europe, and Asia, wintering further south. The Mallard was also introduced to Australia and New Zealand where the population has been increasing.

Mallard Map
Breeding Habitat/Resident,    Migration or Winter Area.



Breeding Season: - April to June.

Eggs: - 10 to 12 (greenish white colour).

Notes: - The Mallard is the most common
wild duck and is widespread in the northern hemisphere. The Mallard, a dabbling duck, is the ancestor of almost all of the varieties of domestic ducks. Mallards frequently interbreed with their closest relatives leading to various hybrid ducks.

Conservation status (IUCN 3.1):
  Least Concern.  

Classification: - Family: Anatidae,
Subfamily: Anatinae, Genus: Anas.

Mallard video:


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Photographs

Mallard
Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos)





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