(Anas platyrhynchos)

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is about 22 inches long. The male has a metallic green head and white neck ring, chestnut breast and grayish body and yellow bill. The female is a mottled brown. Both male and female have a bright blue speculum bordered with white.

Mallards are known as "puddle ducks". They feed by tipping tail-up to reach aquatic plants, seeds and snails. Mallards live in fresh marshes, rivers, lakes, bays and some city ponds.

The female builds and tends the nest that is lined with down, grass or leaves near water (sometimes in a tree). There are 9 to 11 light green, blue or buff eggs laid. The eggs have no markings. The incubation period is from 22 to 28 days.

The mallard can be found in temperate and subtropical regions across the Northern Hemisphere. Mallards will also breed with other ducks of their species producing interesting hybrids.