Mallard Duck

Description:

Dimorphic species. Males have an iridescent green head, thin white neck band, reddish-brown chest, gray-brown back, white flanks and underparts and a yellow bill. Two dark tail feathers have a distinctive upward curl. Female birds have mottled brown and black plumage, a dark streak through the eyes and an orange and brown bill. Both genders have orange legs and feet and a violet-blue patch of wing feathers bordered by white.

Habitat:

Stream running through a greenbelt area in housing development.

Notes:

This fellow was alone, paddling around under the trees in the shallow area at the head of a trickle trough.