Birds · Anseriformes · Anatidae

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the wild ancestor of almost every domestic duck breed in the world. Its readiness to hybridise with other species is a conservation worry, because of the genetic dilution it causes.

Weight

800 g – 1.4 kg

Size

50 cm – 65 cm

Lifespan

7 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterOmnivore Diurnal Colonial Bird Freshwater

53countries 207parks42same family

Fun facts

It is the wild ancestor of almost every domestic duck breed in the world.
It can swim the day it hatches, led to the water by its mother.
Its readiness to hybridise with other ducks is a worry because of the genetic dilution of related species.
comportamientoSleeping at the edge of a group, it can keep one eye open and half its brain awake to watch for predators.
anatomíaThe feathers on its head throw off an iridescent green that shifts with the angle of the light — an optical effect rather than a pigment.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Marshes, lakes, rivers, ponds and wetlands of the temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere; introduced in the Southern Hemisphere
Birth weight: ~32.4 grams at hatching (34% less than the weight of the fresh egg)
Size at birth: Precocial: able to swim the day it hatches, led to the water by its mother
Sexual maturity: 1 year
Gestation / incubation: 26-28 days
Litter / clutch size: 8 to 13 eggs per clutch
Lifespan in captivity: Documented ringing record of over 27 years

Sources consulted: NHPBS NatureWorks; USDA Forest Service; A-Z Animals; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); USGS (duckling weight study)