Zoology of the ZooPl. CLXIII
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Aves · Anseriformes · Anatidae
Fig. 1. Mallard
Fig. 2. Range
| Length or height | About 50-65 cm long |
|---|---|
| Weight | About 0.7-1.6 kg |
| Food | Seeds, plants, insects, snails |
| Lifespan | About 5-10 years (est.) |
| Society | Pairs form each winter |
| Habitat | wetland, urban |
| Range | North America, Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Wild or tame | Wild |
Males (drakes) are bright green-headed in breeding plumage; females are mottled brown for hiding on the nest. After breeding, drakes molt into a dull "eclipse" plumage and are briefly flightless. Ancestor of most farm ducks.
Observe: Watch the head-up-tail-up display in winter.