Mallard (Wild Duck, Common Mallard)

The Mallard is the quintessential dabbling duck. Males feature a glossy green head, white collar, chestnut breast, and grayish body, while females are mottled brown. They are strong fliers and highly adaptable to human-modified wetlands.

Rich grayish-brown base with a distinct iridescent green-blue sheen (structural coloration) across the upper vane and a pale fringe

Pennaceous upper vane with tightly interlocked barbules, transitioning to a slight plumulaceous base with a small afterfeather

Smooth, slightly glossy appearance with a water-resistant texture common in waterfowl contour feathers

Distinctive structural green-blue iridescence on a rounded brown contour feather with a pale edge

Wetlands, marshes, shallow lakes, rivers, ponds, and urban parks with access to water

Widespread throughout the temperate and subtropical zones of North America, Europe, Asia, and introduced to Australia and New Zealand

Important as both predator of aquatic invertebrates and prey for larger raptors and mammals. They also aid in wetland seed dispersal.

Other dabbling duck species such as the American Black Duck or Northern Pintail, though their body feathers typically lack the intense green structural iridescence found on male Mallard breast feathers

Mallards are the ancestor of nearly all domestic duck breeds. Their iridescent head feathers owe their color to microstructures that reflect light rather than pigments.

Good condition, intact barbs with minimal wear, showing fresh structural coloration