The most commonly recognized and widely distributed duck species across the globe. Its familiarity is partly due to its adaptability to various habitats, as well as its ease of identification by the striking green head of the male during the breeding season. The female, in contrast, sports a mottled brown plumage that provides excellent camouflage in its natural habitat.
Mallards are large dabbling ducks, which means they feed in the water by tipping forward and grazing on underwater plants. They do not dive, but they may feed on land, foraging for grains and invertebrates, which make up a large part of their diet. This diet versatility allows them to thrive in diverse environments.
These birds are often found in temperate and subtropical regions of North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. They have also been introduced in other places, such as New Zealand and Australia. The habitats they prefer include a range of wetlands such as rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and coastal bays. The key habitat features are shallow water and abundant vegetation, which provide food and cover.
During the mating season, Mallards become more selective about their habitat, often seeking secluded areas with dense vegetation near water bodies to build their nests and raise their young. The female lays an average of 8 to 13 eggs, which she incubates for about four weeks. After hatching, the ducklings are precocial, meaning they are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth, able to leave the nest within a day.
Mallards are highly social outside of the breeding season, forming large flocks that can be seen and heard over long distances. These gatherings are not only a social structure but also a defense mechanism against predators.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Antigua & Barbuda
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bosnia And Herz.
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Cayman Islands
China
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Egypt
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lebanon
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Myanmar
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Nort. Mariana Is.
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Saint Pierre
Saint Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Slovenia
Somalia
South Georgia
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Svalbard
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks & Caicos
UAE
US Virgin Islands
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Yemen
ZambiaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic / Monomorphic (size)
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
