Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
The Mallard is the ancestor of nearly all domestic duck breeds except for the Muscovy duck.
- Scientific name
- Anas platyrhynchos
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Anas
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Shallow freshwater wetlands, marshes, flooded fields, and urban ponds.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; consumes aquatic invertebrates, seeds, grains, and various pondweed through surface dabbling.
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia, North Africa, Australia, New Zealand
- Size
- 50-65 cm in length with a wingspan of 81-98 cm.
- Lifespan
- 5-10 years in the wild
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Pollution, lead poisoning from fishing tackle, and genetic hybridization with domestic duck breeds.
- Safe to approach?
- Generally harmless and accustomed to humans. Maintain a respectful distance, especially during nesting season. Do not feed bread as it causes malnutrition and water pollution; offer oats, rice, or peas instead.
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 ducks)...
Photo: anonymous, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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