Mallard

Mallard facts at a glance

What is a group of mallards called?

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Appearance and the eclipse

The drake mallard is striking, with an iridescent green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and bright yellow bill, while the hen is mottled brown to stay hidden on the nest. Both show a blue-purple wing patch called a speculum. For a few weeks in summer the male molts into a dull, female-like "eclipse" plumage while he is briefly unable to fly.

Dabbling and diet

Mallards are dabbling ducks, tipping forward in the water with their tails in the air to reach plants and small animals below the surface rather than diving. They are omnivores, eating seeds, aquatic plants, insects, worms, and small invertebrates, and in parks they readily accept food from people, though bread is poor nutrition for them.

Breeding and ducklings

The familiar "quack" most people know is actually the call of the female. Hens build hidden nests near water and lay around a dozen eggs. Ducklings hatch covered in down and able to swim and feed themselves within a day, following their mother to water while she guards them closely from predators.

Habitat and global success

Mallards live across North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa and have been introduced elsewhere, making them one of the most widespread ducks on Earth. They thrive in almost any wetland, from wild marshes to urban park ponds, and their adaptability and willingness to live near people have helped them flourish worldwide.

Did you know? Mallard facts

• The mallard is the most common and widespread wild duck in the world and the ancestor of nearly all domestic ducks.
• Mallards are omnivores that eat seeds, aquatic plants, insects, worms, and small invertebrates. They dabble at the surface and tip upside down to reach food rather than diving for it.
• The male has a glossy green head, yellow bill, and chestnut breast, while the female is mottled brown for camouflage. Both have a blue wing patch, and the classic loud quack comes from the female.
• Yes. Almost all domestic duck breeds, except the Muscovy, descend from the wild mallard, which is why farmyard ducks vary so much in size and color.
• Bread fills ducks up without giving them the nutrients they need and can harm their health and water quality. Cracked corn, oats, peas, or duck feed are far better if you want to feed them.
• Conservation: Least Concern (IUCN).

Diet & feeding

Mallard feeds primarily as a omnivore (plants, seeds, insects, invertebrates). Mallards are dabbling ducks, tipping forward in the water with their tails in the air to reach plants and small animals below the surface rather than diving. They are omnivores, eating seeds, aquatic plants, insects, worms, and small inverte

Adaptations

• The drake mallard is striking, with an iridescent green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and bright yellow bill, while the hen is mottled brown to stay hidden on the nest. Both show a blue-purple wing patch called a speculum. For a few weeks in summer the male molts into a dull, female-like \
• Mallards are dabbling ducks, tipping forward in the water with their tails in the air to reach plants and small animals below the surface rather than diving. They are omnivores, eating seeds, aquatic plants, insects, worms, and small invertebrates, and in parks they readily accept food from people, though bread is poor nutrition for them.

Behaviour & ecology

• The drake mallard is striking, with an iridescent green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and bright yellow bill, while the hen is mottled brown to stay hidden on the nest. Both show a blue-purple wing patch called a speculum. For a few weeks in summer the male molts into a dull, female-like \
• Mallards are dabbling ducks, tipping forward in the water with their tails in the air to reach plants and small animals below the surface rather than diving. They are omnivores, eating seeds, aquatic plants, insects, worms, and small invertebrates, and in parks they readily accept food from people, though bread is poor nutrition for them.
• The familiar \

Communication

• Mallard uses calls and visual displays to communicate territory, alarm, and breeding status.
• Vocal repertoires vary by species and are often learned or refined during development.

Habitat & range

Lakes, rivers, marshes, and city ponds

Ecological role

Mallard contributes to seed dispersal, insect control, or nutrient cycling depending on diet and foraging habits.

Conservation status of the Mallard

Sources & references

This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Mallard:

• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

  Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Anas platyrhynchos.

• IUCN Red List — Anas platyrhynchos.

  Conservation status (Least Concern) and population trends.

• Animal Diversity Web — Anas platyrhynchos. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

  Life history, morphology, and range.

• Wikipedia — Mallard.

  General taxonomy and overview (cross-check primary sources).

• Global Animal Guide editorial standards

  How we research, source, review, and update every guide for accuracy.