Mallard

Description:

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Spring picture of a Black duck with chicks. Sooty brown with conspicuous white wing lining. Olive or greenish bill. Orange legs. bluish-purple speculum.

Habitat:

Shallow ponds, lakes, marshes, sheltered saltwater in winter.

Notes:

Widespread interbreeding with Mallards has resulted in recent years in a decrease of "pure" Blacks. In areas of heavy shooting, these ducks ingest enough led shot to cause extensive mortality from lead poisoning. Ashley, "A few good characters to separate the two species: bill color is one. Mallards have an orange bill with a lot of black on it like your bird has, and a black duck has a solid yellow bill. A really good character to look at is the speculum, if you can see it. It shows well in this photo. Black ducks have a purple speculum bordered in black, mallards have a blue speculum bordered in white, just like your bird has."