Wild Wednesday - Mallard | Latest news

Mallard ducks, scientific name, Anas platyrhynchos, are one of the most familiar and widely recognised duck species in the UK. 

Found throughout Britain in parks, rural ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are highly adaptable to various environments, including coastal wetlands and freshwater habitats.

They have a distinctive appearance, with the male mallard, known as a "drake," being easily recognisable with its glossy green head, yellow beak, and white neck ring. The female, or "hen" has a more subdued brownish colour, which helps her blend in while nesting.

While some mallards in the UK are year-round residents, others are migratory. Migrant mallards come from northern and eastern Europe, especially during the winter months, seeking our mild climate.

These ducks are omnivores (consumes both plant and animal matter) that feed on a variety of food sources. They eat seeds, insects, aquatic plants, and small fish. You may see them "dabbling" on the water's surface, searching for food.

Mallards typically mate in the early spring, and females build their nests on the ground, usually near water. They lay a clutch of about eight to 13 eggs, which hatch after around 28 days. The ducklings are precocial, meaning they can walk and swim shortly after hatching.

They are certainly not shy and can often be seen in urban areas, including ponds in parks or along riverbanks in cities. They are known to be opportunistic and will scavenge for food in human-populated areas.

Mallard ducks are known for their distinctive "quack," especially the females. Male mallards have a softer, more subdued call.

Their population is stable and abundant, though they can sometimes interbreed with other duck species, leading to hybrid offspring.

Read more here: Mallard | The Wildlife Trusts