Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos



Photos by Peter LaTourrette.  North American Birds Photo Gallery
Conditions of Use 

play call (Female does most of the "quacking")

The song or call above is in .mp3 format.  You will need an mp3 player in order to listen.  If you do not have an mp3 player you can download one.  Click on the picture below.  It's free and works great!

 

Field Marks

Adult male:

  • Gray back
  • Yellow bill
  • Green head
  • White ring around neck
  • Chestnut breast
  • Gray flanks and upperwing coverts
  • Black undertail coverts contrast with white tail

Adult female:

  • Orange bill with black central patch
  • Pale brown face
  • Dark cap and eye line
  • Mottled brown and tan plumage

Habitat

Most often, Mallards prefer wetlands, where highly productive waters produce large amounts of floating, emergent and submerged vegetation Wetlands also produce a great deal of aquatic invertebrates on which mallards feed.

Status

An abundant permanent resident in the Atlanta area near water sources