Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Instantly recognizable, the Mallard is a medium-sized dabbling duck that is familiar to people all over the world. These adaptable waterfowl are the ancestor of the modern domestic duck and are found everywhere from remote wilderness lakes to suburban backyards.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

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.

Size

Length

50cm to 65cm

Wingspan

81cm to 98cm

Weight

720g to 1.58kg

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Green Brown

Secondary Colour

Blue White Black

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Orange

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Black Buff

Beak Colour (Female)

Orange Brown

Leg Colour (Female)

Orange

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Mallard is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Mallard is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Mallard can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Mallard is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Mallard can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Mallard can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Mallard is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Mallard is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Mallard is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Mallard is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Mallard is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Mallard is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

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.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Subarctic

Distribution Map

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:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons