breeding drake; note curly tail (California, USA; 2006-11-12)


Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos

Native Range: North America and Eurasia

Notes: an abundant dabbling duck of freshwater lakes and ponds; hybridizes extensively with several related species such as the Black Duck, sometimes threatening the latter with extinction via genetic swamping; many domesticated and feral forms also exist, and they exhibit a wide diversity of plumage colors and patterns (see Domestic Mallard).

green head, yellow bill, orange feet (California, USA; 2006-03-12)
rusty breast, blue speculum, white neck ring (California, USA; 2007-01-27)

bachelor flock, with one curious hen (California, USA; 2006-02-04)
hen; mostly brownish body, yellow-green bill (California, USA; 2006-07-15)

blue speculum bordered by white (California, USA; 2006-08-08)
dorsal view of hen in flight; note speculum (California, USA; 2011-02-27)

ventral view of hen in flight; white wing lining (California, USA; 2007-09-01)
mated pair on the alert (California, USA; 2006-04-16)

mated pair (California, USA; 2007-02-17)
hen nagging drake (California, USA; 2007-01-21)

drake watching hen's tip-up feeding behavior (California, USA; 2011-04-22)
small but happy family (California, USA; 2009-05-02)

hen with chicks (California, USA; 2006-04-01)
chick testing his stubby little wings (California, USA; 2009-05-02)

family of 'teenagers' (California, USA; 2006-05-20)
drake posing for portrait (California, USA; 2007-01-27)
"Brewer's Duck" (Mallard X Gadwall hybrid) (California, USA; 2012-11-30)