Southeast Birds

mallard

The male Mallard is most recognized by his green head and white ring around his neck. He has a yellow colored beak and orange legs and feet. His body is gray with a black patch on his rear that sports two tail feathers that curl upward and a rusty colored chest.

The female is mostly brown with some black and white. The crown of her head is black and a black streak runs across her eye making the lighter color above her eye look like an eyebrow. Her beak is orange, usually having a black patch, her legs and feet are also orange.

Both, male and female, have a blue speculum with a black and white border on their wings. Although the male tends to be slightly bigger than the female, they are both about the same size, about 20-30 inches in length. Their wingspan usually reaches around three feet.

Habitat

The Mallard’s preferred habitat is mostly shallow water, such as the shorelines of ponds, lakes, rivers, swamps, creeks, and even puddles if they’re big enough to get them wet. Unless you live near water, you won’t usually find Mallards in your back yard so you will have to go to them, although it isn’t hard to do since they inhabit human populated areas as well.

female mallard

They are found in the middle region of North America year round and in the southern regions during winter. They are more readily found in the northern regions during summer.

Diet

The reason the Mallard prefers shallow water is so they can dip their heads in and feed on aquatic plants and invertebrate and sometimes small fish. This is why they are called “dappling” ducks. They will also feed on dry land eating rice, wheat and other grains as well as vegetables such as corn and peas. Being the friendly ducks that they are, they will also feed on bread and bird seed given to them by humans.

Facts

- With the exception of the Muskovy Duck, The Mallard is ancestor to all other domesticated ducks and will breed with all types. The Black Duck is actually in danger of becoming completely hybrid.

- Groups of Mallards are called “sords”.

- They are the most abundant of all ducks.

- Average lifespan is 7 years.

- The male is also known as “drake”.

- The females normally lay 10 to 12 eggs and have an incubation period of one month.

- Mallards pair in the fall and court untill breeding season, much longer than other ducks. The male disconnects with his mate after the eggs are hatched.