Mallard Duck Animal Information
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - A.K.A. Wild Duck. The whistling of wings and the whining of the dog, signifies all hell is about to break lose. Your shotgun chatters as you pump out the shell. Feathers fly, wings fold and everything is silent. There is a smile on your best friend’s face and a happy dog retrieving your ducks. This makes being in the cold and drizzling rain, all seem worth it. The adult male mallard has a green head with a black butt, and a yellow bill with a black tip. The males are often called Greenheads. The adult female is light brown with a dark brown bill. Both sexes have blue speculum edges on their wings, which are distinct when flying or resting. The habitats they frequent are ponds, river, parks, fields and wetlands. Mallards are the most abundant species of puddle ducks. Puddle ducks prefer smaller water bodies with calm water. They are very vocal birds. Other duck species feel comfortable in the presence of mallards due to their frequent quacking. This compels the other ducks to land near the mallards. The mallard is the most common duck found in all flyways. Mallards have been known to live up to 30 years. The average mallard is around 29 inches in length with an average weight of 2 ¾ pounds.
