Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in

A Confucius quotation

Mallard: Have you seen this bird?

Mallard (duck)

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks, is a dabbling duck.

The Mallard breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Identification Tips:
• Length: 15-16 inches Wingspan: 36 inches
• Large dabbling duck
• Blue speculum with white bar along both leading and trailing edges
• Silvery-white wing linings
• Juvenile similar to adult female

Adult male alternate:
• Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer
• Gray back, yellow bill, green head
• White ring around neck
• Chestnut breast
• Gray flanks and upperwing coverts
• Black undertail coverts contrast with white tail

Adult male basic:
• Similar to adult female, but usually with chestnut breast and an unmarked yellowish bill

Adult female:
• Orange bill with black central patch
• Pale brown face
• Dark cap and eye line
• Mottled brown and tan plumage

Similar species:
Adult male in alternate plumage is unmistakable. Females, immature and eclipse-plumage males could be confused with Black Ducks, Gadwalls and Mottled Ducks, but note the blue speculum with white borders on both sides.

It is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south.

The Mallard is the ancestor of all domestic ducks, except the few breeds derived from the unrelated Muscovy Duck.

A noisy species, the male has a nasal call, the female has a “quack” stereotypically associated with ducks.