Mallard (Wild Duck)

The Mallard is the most familiar and abundant wild duck in the world. Males feature a brilliant glossy green head, white collar, and chestnut breast, while females exhibit a mottled brown camouflage pattern designed for nesting secrecy.

Dark grey to charcoal black coloration with subtle lighter dusting towards the edges. Melanin-based pigmentation typical of female or eclipse-plumage Mallard body feathers.

Transition structure: the upper portion is pennaceous with interlocked barbs, while the lower base features loose, plumulaceous (fluffy) barbs without strict hooklets.

Soft, silky, and pliable with a matte finish. Possesses semi-waterproof qualities common in duck body plumage due to preen gland oil.

Soft grey-black coloration, rounded contour shape, and a fluffy semiplume base characteristic of duck body and flank feathers.

Wetlands, marshes, lakes, ponds, rivers, and agricultural fields across temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Widespread across North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa and Australia. Highly adaptable and migratory in northern portions of its range.

Acts as an important seed disperser for aquatic plants, a key link in wetland food webs, and an ecological indicator of wetland health.

Other dabbling ducks such as American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) or Gadwall (Mareca strepera), whose body feathers share similar textures and sizes.

Mallards are the primary ancestors of almost all domestic duck breeds. Their specialized bill has comb-like structures called lamellae to strain food from water.

Good condition with intact barbs and slight wear at the very base where it detached from the skin.