{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "mallard",
  "name": "Mallard",
  "scientificName": "Anas platyrhynchos",
  "category": "Bird",
  "summary": "The mallard is the most common and widespread wild duck in the world and the ancestor of nearly all domestic ducks. The male has a glossy green head, yellow bill, and chestnut chest, while the female is mottled brown for camouflage. A dabbling duck of lakes, rivers, and city ponds, the mallard adapts to almost any wetland and usually lives 5 to 10 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Aves",
    "order": "Anseriformes",
    "family": "Anatidae",
    "genus": "Anas"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 1.1,
    "lengthM": 0.58,
    "topSpeedKmh": 88,
    "lifespanYears": 8
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Anas platyrhynchos"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore (plants, seeds, insects, invertebrates)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Lakes, rivers, marshes, and city ponds"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "5–10 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "50–65 cm (20–26 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 88 km/h (55 mph) in flight"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Wetlands across North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and introduced to other regions worldwide.",
    "continents": [
      "North America",
      "Europe",
      "Asia",
      "Africa"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Anas platyrhynchos.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Anas%20platyrhynchos&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Anas platyrhynchos. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Anas_platyrhynchos/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Mallard.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallard"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/mallard/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/mallard/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}