Mallards

Description:

Drake - Iridescent green head, white neck ring, yellow bill. Upper body shades of gray with black tail and white feather tips. Breast is chestnut color, lower body light gray to white. Hen - Body brown with mottled black overall, breast lighter brown.

Habitat:

Can inhabit any location that provides a minimal amount of water and shelter. Might be considered the most common urban duck as it will nest in yards and other urban areas that have normal traffic. Road side ditches sometimes provide enough water for some of these birds.

Notes:

As seen in pictures 1 and 2, these common migrants often associate with Canadian Geese and other species of ducks such as the Northern Shoveler. All three of these species of migrants return very early in the season.