The Mallard Duck

The Mallard Duck, though relatively simple and common, is quite the interesting avian. Anas platyrynchos, its scientific name, means flat billed duck in Greek (platyrynchos) and Latin (anas). The Mallard can primarily be found in wetlands in North America, migrating southwards and northwards during the early fall and late winter respectively. The mallard is also a good example of sexual dimorphism, with males possessing the iconic iridescent green head and yellow bill while females are mottled brown throughout. In courtship, mallard drakes attempt to impress the hens, who select mates, by engaging in several "dances," such as a head bob. One of the more interesting things about the mallard duck is how its diet changes based on its habitat and time of year- when insects begin to produce offspring, the mallard eats eggs and larvae along with its normal seeds and aquatic vegetation. Furthermore, mallards that live in places with humans are more friendly to the people because they are sometimes fed by them.