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Mallard Ducks –
Plate Reference #221
The ubiquitous Mallard, Anas
platyrhynchos, is a familiar sight to most of us. Though it prefers
shallow ponds and marshes for its habitat, it is capable of turning up on
almost any unfrozen body of water in our area at any time of the year. The
drake is easily identified as a Mallard most of the year by its bright
iridescent green head, rich brown breast, white neck ring, yellow bill, and
pale gray body. The hen Mallard, though, can be confused with the
American Black Duck, Anas rubripes, a declining but still fairly
common bird. These two closely related species are nearly identical in size,
structure, and voice, but, with practice, even female Mallards can be
readily distinguished from Black Ducks by their plumage. The American Black
Duck is found in habitats similar to the Mallard’s, but tends to be somewhat
warier of humans, and so favors more secluded areas. Though outnumbered by
Mallards at all times of the year here, Black Ducks become more common
relative to the Mallard in migration seasons and in winter, when more
northern breeding populations of Black Ducks migrate south. |
