Mallard

Mallards are a medium to large dabbling duck. Typical for dabbling duck species, their body sits high out of the water while sitting or swimming. In flight their feet are tucked up to the body and the neck is stretched forward.

Measurements

Length: 19.7 to 25.6 in (50 to 65 cm)

Wingspan: 32.3 to 37.4 in (82 to 95 cm)

Both sexes are similar in size ranging 2 to 3 pounds (.9 to 1.4 kilograms). 

The male, or drake, has a iridescent green head with a white neck ring and a chestnut breast. The drake's body is grayish. The female, or hen, has a mottled brown body. Both the hen and drake have purple-blue speculums, or  wing patches.

The basic loud quack associated with ducks, is the call of the female mallard. The male on the other hand, utters soft raspy notes or short whistles. 

Mallards primarily nest on the ground in grasslands, and once hatched, broods may travel long distances between the nest and wetlands. In urban areas, mallards often nest in flower beds, along roadsides, and even on roof tops. The nest is usually a shallow bowl shape made from grass and lined with down feathers and can contain up to 13 eggs. 

After migrating south in the fall to avoid harsh winter weather, mallards display courtship behavior forming pairs of males and females. When it’s time for spring migration, the pair travels back north. Upon arrival the female mallard lays her eggs in a shallow nest made on the ground. The female independently incubates the eggs, while the male will leave to congregate with other males. Within a day of hatching, the chicks will swim, and they will be strong enough to fly and make the migration journey south by fall.

Mallards occur year-round throughout North America, but most individuals are migratory and breed in the northern United States and Canada and winter in the Southern United States and Mexico. Most of the breeding population occurs in the Prairie Pothole Region of the north-central United States and central Canada.