Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Size

• Body length ranges from 51 to 71 centimetres (20 to 27 inches).

Appearance

• The male Mallard has an iridescent green head and upper neck separated from the chestnut chest by a white ring.
• The back and wings are brownish gray with an irridescent purple speculum bordered front and back by white.
• The underparts and sides are light gray, the tail feathers are gray with white borders, and the upper and under tail coverts are black.
• The legs are reddish orange and the bill is yellow.
• The female Mallard's upper parts are brown, streaked with black. Her throat and foreneck are buff and the underparts are buffy-gray spotted with brown-gray.
• The male in eclipse plumage is similar to the female.

Voice/Call

• For both male and female, voice is a recognizable quack. Male voice is deeper than the female’s.

• This species nests throughout most of North America, and winters from southern Canada to Panama.

Habitat

• Typical habitats for this species include:
  • Agricultural areas
  • City parks
  • Lakes
  • Rivers
  • Springs
  • Wetlands

Food

• The Mallard duck’s diet includes:
  • Grasses
  • Grain fields
  • Seed
  • Various surface aquatic plants

Breeding Behaviour

• The nest is on the ground, made of grass, dead leaves, and lined with down.
• 8 to 12 buffy-green eggs are laid.

Status

The Mallard duck is classified as Secure in the current General Status of Alberta Wild Species report. See:

• General Status of Alberta Wild Species

Current management

• Hunting season information for this species is provided in the current Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations. To view the guide online or to order a printed copy, visit the My Wild Alberta website at:
  • Hunting: Regulations