Mallard
The mallard is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa.
The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on wings and belly, while the females (hens or ducks) have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes have an area of white-bordered black speculum feathers which commonly also include iridescent blue feathers especially among males. Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes. This species is the main ancestor of most breeds of domesticated ducks
Latin Name
Anas platyrhynchos
Further reading
