Mallard Duck
Anas platyrhynchos
Family Anatidae
Subfamily Anatinae

Perhaps the most common duck of city parks across North America, the Mallard Duck is the largest duck in the subfamily of dabbling ducks: those that feed on the surface-waters using rapid, splashing bill movements.

Identifying Traits (male):

• Dark green & glossy head
• Yellow Bill
• White neck ring
• Chestnut-brown chest
• Grayish body
• Bold blue speculum, bordered by white bars

 Identifying Traits (female):

• Mottled brown body
• Lightly streaked brown head
• Orange bill with dark top
• Bold blue speculum, bordered by white bars

Voice: Males give a low, rattling kwek. Females give a famliair and noisy quack.

Habitat: Mallards occupy a wide-range of wet habitats, from marshes, to city parks, to rivers and ponds.

Range: The Mallard Duck can be found throughout the continental United States

Interesting Facts: While Mallard Ducks are usually monogamous when paired, the male of the species will often attempt forced, extra-pair copulations. As opposed to copulation between a paired couple, forced copulations are preceded by no male displays, and often involve several males chasing one female.