Mallard
A widespread dabbling duck whose glossy drake is obvious—and whose variable females reward more careful identification.
Artwork inspired by A. B. Frost
Mallards feed by tipping forward in shallow water, filtering seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates without fully diving. Males show green heads, white neck rings, chestnut chests, and curled black tail feathers; females are mottled brown with orange-and-black bills.
The iridescent blue speculum bordered by white remains a useful clue on both sexes, especially in flight. Avoid bread; feeding degrades water and bird health. Year-round where water remains open; migration concentrates birds in spring and fall.
- Feeding
- Dabbling
- Wing patch
- Blue speculum
- Range
- Northern Hemisphere
Quick guide
- Watch
- Tail-up shallow feeding
- Compare
- Bill color and wing pattern
Field marks for Mallard
- First impression
- Read blue wing speculum when identifying Mallard.
- Confirm in detail
- Compare broad bill together with bill color and wing pattern before accepting the identification.
- Where to expect it
- Freshwater across the Northern Hemisphere; year-round where water remains open.
- Observe without feeding
- Use the blue speculum, bill pattern, body shape.
Good to know
The familiar loud quack is mainly the female’s call; males usually sound softer and raspier. Bread is poor food and concentrates birds, so observe natural dabbling instead of feeding.
Notice these
- Blue wing speculum
- Broad bill
- Dabbling posture
- Sexually different plumage