Mallard

Latin name:
Anas platyrhynchos

Characteristics:
The mallard is large and heavyset. Both males and females have orange legs and a blue mirror (coloured area in the wings).
Males (drakes) have a so-called ‘nuptial plumage’ in spring and an ‘eclipse plumage’ after summer. The male’s nuptial plumage offers a familiar image: a shiny, dark green head, a white band around the neck, and a dark brown breast. They have a black rump (tail) with curled-up centre tail feathers. Their beaks are solid yellowish green.
Females are mostly brown with dark brown spots and striping. They have a dark crown and dark eye stripes. The beak is chamois-coloured with an irregular dark colouring in the middle.

Males in eclipse plumage look a lot like females, but have fewer markings. Their chests are a bit more reddish brown and their heads have more contrast.
The females, in particular, make the familiar quacking sound. Males make a softer, more nasal sound.

Reproduction:

The formation of duck couples is accompanied by fierce battle. Males regularly go so far as to try to drown each other to eliminate rivals. Mating is no gentle affair either. A female duck can have a hard time of it if several males want to mate with her.
Ducks have a fairly long breeding season: from February to August. During these months, they can lay 2 to 3 clutches of 6 to 10 eggs. The nest is often found near water and consists of a small hole covered with moss and feathers. After 24 to 32 days of brooding, the eggs hatch. The ducklings can swim almost immediately, and, after 50 to 60 days, they can fly.

Diet:
Mallards and domestic ducks ‘dabble’ for food. This means that they hang ‘upside down’ in the water to search for aquatic plants and small aquatic animals. They also eat grass. In parks, however, ducks also devour a lot of other food. They do not shy away from whatever people throw at them or leave behind.