The most abundant and recognizable duck in the world — and the wild ancestor of most domestic duck breeds. Adaptable to almost any wetland, including urban ones.

Also called: Wild Duck, Greenhead

Native status: Native; cosmopolitan — most abundant duck in the Northern Hemisphere

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 50–65 cm (20–26 in); wingspan 82–95 cm
WeightMales 1.0–1.6 kg (2.2–3.5 lb); females slightly smaller
LifespanWild typically 5–10 years; oldest documented 27
OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae

§ Encyclopedia

The mallard or wild duck is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa. Belonging to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae, mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes.

Source: Wikipedia — Mallard Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Males: iridescent green head, yellow bill, white neck ring, chestnut breast, gray body. Females: mottled brown with orange bill. Both: distinctive blue-purple "speculum" on wing.

Similar species. American Black Duck (darker, no neck ring), Mottled Duck (Gulf coast only), Mexican Duck. Domestic ducks often have mallard ancestry and confuse field ID.

Voice. Females produce the classic "quack quack quack" of cartoon ducks. Males rasp and whistle.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Omnivorous: aquatic invertebrates and plant matter; in winter shifts heavily to grain (corn, rice) in agricultural fields.

Behavior. Most "dabbling" of dabbling ducks — tips up to feed on bottom while swimming. Strong long-distance migrant. Forms massive winter flocks along the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways.

§ Range

Throughout the Northern Hemisphere; introduced widely

§ Habitat

Almost any wetland: ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, urban parks

§ Threats

Lead poisoning from spent shot, hybridization with domestic ducks reducing genetic integrity of wild populations, wetland loss.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the mallard is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Don't feed bread to ducks (causes "angel wing"). Don't release pet ducks into wild populations. Use non-lead ammunition for waterfowl.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Ducks Unlimited
  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • USFWS Migratory Bird Program
  • IUCN Red List 2018