Wildlifeof Nepal
Mallard
Ducks, Geese & Grebes
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Anas platyrhynchos
Basic stats
Diet
Water plants and small animals
Habitat
Wetlands
Range
Temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia and North Africa
Clutch size
8–13 eggs
Incubation period
27–28 days
Size
50–65cm
Wingspan
81–98cm
Weight
0.7–1.6kg
The mallard is a widespread dabbling duck that breeds across the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia and North Africa. Males have green heads and females are mainly brown-speckled, and both sexes have a white-bordered speculum on the wing, blue in males especially. It is 50 to 65cm long with a wingspan of 81 to 98cm and weighs 0.7 to 1.6kg (Wikipedia, general species account).
It lives in wetlands, eats water plants and small animals, and gathers in flocks. Females lay 8 to 13 creamy white to greenish-buff eggs on alternate days; incubation takes 27 to 28 days, and the ducklings swim as soon as they hatch. It is the main ancestor of most domestic duck breeds and readily hybridises with related wild ducks.
Quick answers
- What does the Mallard eat?
- Water plants and small animals
- What habitat does the Mallard live in?
- Wetlands
- Where is the Mallard found?
- Temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia and North Africa
- How many eggs does the Mallard lay?
- 8–13 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Mallard incubated?
- 27–28 days
- How big is the Mallard?
- 50–65cm
- What is the wingspan of the Mallard?
- 81–98cm
- How much does the Mallard weigh?
- 0.7–1.6kg