Dereila Nature Inn - Bird's Nest Lounge

The Dereila Nature Inn - a cyber nature centre for nature lovers

Dereila Nature Inn Home > Bird's Nest Lounge > Walking in the Wild > The Mallard

#41 - The Mallard

Found across the Northern Hemisphere, the Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, is a
very common and easily recognizable medium-sized dabbling duck.

The Mallard walks well on land and often grazes for seeds in fields, but it is really a bird of the wetlands where it consumes water plants and small aquatic life. It has a very clever ability to take off by springing straight up off the water.


With its glossy green head, the male mallard (left) is easily to spot. It has a white neck ring, a yellow bill, a brown breast and brownish-gray wings and belly. The female (right), like many other female ducks, is mainly mottled brown, but the orange bill helps in identification. Both sexes have a very noticeable white-bordered blue wing patch called a speculum.
\|

The Mallard nests on the ground in a concealed spot, usually near water. There is one brood a year and the young are ready to go soon after hatching. Fully grown, the mallard measures about 23 in/58 cm long, with a wingspan of 35 in/89 cm.

« #40 - The Orange-crowned Warbler

Walking in the Wild

#42 - The Varied Thrush »

Dereila Nature Inn Home > Bird's Nest Lounge > Walking in the Wild > The Mallard

top