Mallard (Birds of Orange County, CA)

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Summary ²

The mallard (/ˈmælɑːrd/ or /ˈmælərd/) (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae. The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on wings and belly while the females (hens or du

Anas platyrhynchos ³

The Mallard is the most recognizable species of waterfowl, often being the only species of duck present in ponds and small streams near cities and towns. This large duck is about 20 to 24 inches long with an oval-shaped body and short tail. Males are splotchy brown and tan with a green head and yellow bill, while females are speckled brown and tan with a dull brown bill. Both sexes have orange legs and a blue diamond on the wings. The Mallard is common across North America and Eurasia. This species may be found from the Arctic Circle south to the tropics. While some Mallard populations migrate between separate breeding and wintering grounds, many populations living in human-altered environments are non-migratory. Mallards are usually found in and around rivers, streams, lakes, or ponds. They eat a variety of foods, including insects, snails, and grains. Mallards are often present in large numbers where ducks are fed by humans. Mallards are often found floating on the water’s surface, occasionally dabbling (submerging their head and chest while their legs and tail stick out of the water) to find food. These ducks are also capable of taking off directly from the water. They may also be found on land, where they may be observed walking, or in the air, where they may be observed making swift and direct flights between bodies of water. They are most active during the day.

Threat Status: Least Concern

Habitat ⁴

Mallards are found anywhere there is fresh water.

Life History ⁴

Nesting Mallards are ground nesting birds that build shallow depression nests in the soil and pull nearby vegetation in to line it. They can lay up to 13 eggs and will brood up to 3 times/year. Chicks are more or less precocial and can leave the nest within 16 hours from hatching.

Feeding Mallards are generalist foragers and will eat a wide variety of food. They don’t dive, but dabble to feed, tipping forward in the water to eat seeds and aquatic vegetation. They also roam around on the shore and pick at vegetation and prey on the ground. During the breeding season, they eat mainly animal matter including aquatic insect larvae, earthworms, snails and freshwater shrimp. During migration, many Mallards consume largely agricultural seed and grain (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/mallard/lifehistory).

Fontes e Créditos

(c) anónimo, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anas_platyrhynchos_male_female_quadrat.jpg
Adaptado por noraalhamdan de uma obra de (c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anas_platyrhynchos
Adaptado por noraalhamdan de uma obra de (c) Smithsonian Institution, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/134177
(c) gillian360, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/25874