Mallard

(Anas platyrhynchos)

Conservation Status
Mallard
Photo by Wayne Rasmussen
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB, SNRN - Unranked Breeding and Nonbreeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
 
Description
 
 

The patch of colorful feathers on the wing (speculum) is blue and is bordered with white.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

20 to 27in length

35 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Wetlands, open water

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

March to November

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Abundant migrant and breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Anseriformes (waterfowl)  
 

Family

Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans)  
  Subfamily Anatinae (dabbling ducks)  
 

Genus

Anas (mallards, pintails, and allies)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Domestic Duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)

Greenland Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos conboschas)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Anas oustaleti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Speculum

A brightly colored patch of secondary flight feathers on the wings of many ducks.

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Bobbi Johnson

 
    Mallard      
 

Alfredo Colon

 
    Mallard   Mallard  
           
    Mallard   Mallard  
           
    Mallard   Mallard  
           
    Mallard      
 

Margot Avey

 
    Mallard   Mallard  
           
    Mallard      
 

Gerry Garcia

 
    Mallard   Mallard  
 

Norm & Peg Dibble

 
 

Here’s one of many times we experienced a very large flock of Mallards landing in our yard and the two other adjacent ones too looking for the corn that we usually have out there most of the year.

 
  This was back around 2011 possibly. If we threw out large amounts of whole corn, it was gone in a flash and many of them would not get a bite. Then groups of them would fly away if they did get to eat. So we’d go out and throw more corn around. The ducks would temporarily take off but would circle around and around the area until they felt safe to land again. It was quite a sight and possibly our neighbors were not happy with us. We always wondered if they were from the Shingle Creek area where many spend the winter or if they were flocks that were migrating. We are under the impression that ducks don’t bother migrating from MN really anymore. We are glad that we have been able to keep our Mallard visitors down to only a few pairs now for the past 5 years about. An interesting thing to see in these large flocks of ducks was an occasional all white duck or variations of patterns.   Mallard  
           
 

Duck and Doves, July 2016. So cute!

 
    Mallard      
 

Lynn Rubey

 
 

An adult male Mallard in The big Stone Lake in Ortonville, Mn.

 
    Mallard   Mallard  
           
 

A male Mallard duck in flight over the marsh waters of The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

 
    Mallard      
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
    Mallard   Mallard  
           
    Mallard      
           
 

Urban parks host a large variety of wildlife if you really spend some time observing.

 
    Mallard      
 

Dan W. Andree

 
 

Spring Arrivals

They eventually all flew off together.

  Mallard  
           
 

"Mallard Ducks" adult male and female in flight...

Took the photo early evening April 28, 2018 they were circling near the Sandpiper Prairie SNA in rural Norman Co. Mn.

  Mallard  
 

Ed Oliveras

 
 

Male

 
    Mallard      
           
 

Female

 
    Mallard      
 

Tom Baker

 
    Mallard   Mallard  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Male

 
    Mallard   Mallard  
           
 

Leucistic Mallard

 
    Mallard      

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Mallard
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
 
  Mallard  
  Mallard
Ed McVicker
 
  Mallard  
  Mallard
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Mallard  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Avi Birds

 
  Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
Aug 4, 2020
 
   
 
About

In this video, we take a look at the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Mallard Duck - HD Mini-Documentary
James Knott
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Mar 10, 2009

http://quickdirt.com is my new mountain biking website. Check it out for more great adventures!

Transcript: "The Mallard is found around the world in North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

This waterfowl prefers calm, shallow water in wetlands, small ponds and rivers. The Mallard is a dabbling duck which means that it feeds while floating on the surface of the water as opposed to diving for its meals. It feed mainly on aquatic vegetation, but will also eat insects.

This duck, along with the Muscovy Duck, are believed to be the ancestors of all domestic ducks.

The male, which is known as a drake, has a distinct green head with a yellowish-orange bill, while the female has a more natural light brown coat and dark brown bill.

Mating pairs will stay together until the female lays eggs. soon after, the male will leave.

Newly hatched ducklings are precocial which means they can swim and feed themselves from the moment they leave the eggs."

   
  Baby Mallard Ducks in my Swimming Pool
LimeyInSD
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jun 19, 2007

In mid June, I came home to find a mother and 8 baby ducklings hanging out in my pool. Estimated to be only a couple of days old, this video is a short documentary from their discovery to their escape/ rescue in the 2 days that they were here

   
  Nikon P500 Extreme Zoom Test on Mallard Ducks
Alley Oop
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Apr 14, 2011

Check out the extreme 144x zoom lens of the Nikon P500.

Not a good sunny day so the scene is a little drab and heat from shooting over my truck engine is causing some atmospheric distortions. But boy-o-boy that is some zoom lens :-)

   
  Two wild ducks - part 5
kannonim
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Mar 30, 2007

Two wild ducks (Anas Platyrhynchos) in the ditch again. Taas sinisorsat ojassa.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Alfredo Colon
9/28/2019

Location: Maplewood Nature Center in Maplewood, MN

Mallard

 
  Margot Avey
8/20/2019

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center

Mallard

 
  Margot Avey
8/8/2019

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center

Mallard

 
  Gerry Garcia
8/4/2019

Location: Lyndale Park, Minneapolis, MN

Mallard

 
  Lynn Rubey
6/22/2019

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

An adult male Mallard in The big Stone Lake in Ortonville, Mn.

Mallard

 
  Lynn Rubey
6/19/2019

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A male Mallard duck in flight over the marsh waters of The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Mallard

 
  Wayne Rasmussen
5/21/2018

Location: Joy Park

 

Mallard

 
  Wayne Rasmussen
5/20/2018

Location: Maplewood Nature Center

Mallard

 
  Dan W. Andree
5/3/2018

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn

They eventually all flew off together.

Mallard

 
  Dan W. Andree
4/28/2018

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

Took the photo early evening... they were circling near the Sandpiper Prairie SNA

Mallard

 
  Norm & Peg Dibble
July 2016

Location: Maple Grove, MN

Duck and Doves, July 2016. So cute!

Mallard

 
  Wayne Rasmussen
7/5/2016

Location: Maplewood Heights Park

Mallard

 
  Norm & Peg Dibble
2011

Location: Maple Grove, MN

Here’s one of many times we experienced a very large flock of Mallards landing in our yard and the two other adjacent ones too looking for the corn that we usually have out there most of the year. This was back around 2011 possibly. If we threw out large amounts of whole corn, it was gone in a flash and many of them would not get a bite. Then groups of them would fly away if they did get to eat. So we’d go out and throw more corn around. The ducks would temporarily take off but would circle around and around the area until they felt safe to land again. It was quite a sight and possibly our neighbors were not happy with us. We always wondered if they were from the Shingle Creek area where many spend the winter or if they were flocks that were migrating. We are under the impression that ducks don’t bother migrating from MN really anymore. We are glad that we have been able to keep our Mallard visitors down to only a few pairs now for the past 5 years about. An interesting thing to see in these large flocks of ducks was an occasional all white duck or variations of patterns.

Mallard

 
  Ed Oliveras
2/4/2005

Location: Lake Rebecca Park

Mallard

 
  Wayne Rasmussen
4/23/2003

Location: Maplewood Heights Park

Urban parks host a large variety of wildlife if you really spend some time observing.

Mallard

 
           
 
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Binoculars

 

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