Ducks and geese (Anatidae)
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos. Dabbles for seeds, aquatic plants and invertebrates.
Ducks and geese (Anatidae)MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Scientific name
- Anas platyrhynchos
- Length
- 19.7–25.6 in
- Weight
- 35.3–45.9 oz
- Nest
- Grass-lined scrape on the ground, often far from water
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 1–13 eggs
- Incubation
- 23–30 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Male with glossy green head and yellow bill
- Female mottled brown with an orange bill
- Both show a blue wing patch edged in white
Voice
The classic 'quack' — given almost entirely by females.
Diet and feeding
Dabbles for seeds, aquatic plants and invertebrates.
Mallards by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Alaska | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Alberta | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Arizona | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| British Columbia | Year-round resident | April–June |
| California | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Colorado | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Florida | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Idaho | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Maine | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Manitoba | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Montana | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Nebraska | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Nevada | Year-round resident | March–June |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | March–June |
| New Mexico | Year-round resident | March–June |
| New York | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Year-round resident | April–June |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | March–June |
| North Dakota | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Northwest Territories | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Nova Scotia | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Nunavut | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Prince Edward Island | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Saskatchewan | Year-round resident | April–June |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | February–June |
| South Dakota | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Texas | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Utah | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Washington | Year-round resident | March–June |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Wyoming | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Yukon | Year-round resident | April–June |
Frequently asked
What do mallards eat?
Dabbles for seeds, aquatic plants and invertebrates. At feeders: cracked corn, duck pellets.
How big is a Mallard?
19.7–25.6 in long and 35.3–45.9 oz.
Do mallards use birdhouses?
No. Grass-lined scrape on the ground, often far from water.
Sources
- Mallard — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mallard life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mallard — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.