Anas platyrhynchos
The Mallard is a medium-sized duck with a distinctive appearance. Males have a glossy green head, narrow white collar, chestnut-brown chest, and grayish body. Their wings feature a blue speculum bordered by white.
Females are mottled brown with an orange-brown bill, often with dark markings. Both sexes have orange legs and feet. During the late summer molt, males resemble females but retain their yellow bill.
Juvenile Mallards look very similar to adult females, although they do not have the deep blue wing panel. Very young birds have dark bills, but they soon develop the characteristic yellow or orange bills of the adults.
Length
50cm to 65cm
Wingspan
81cm to 98cm
Weight
720g to 1.58kg
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Mallards are found across many wetland habitats, including freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes. They also thrive in human-modified environments like city parks, agricultural areas, and suburban retention ponds.
This species has a vast distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia. It is a year-round resident in much of its range, including the UK, USA, and southern Canada, with northern populations migrating south for winter.
Sea level to 1,000 meters
Temperate, Subtropical, Subarctic
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Mallard. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you: