Mallard pair

Description:

Mallards are large ducks with hefty bodies, rounded heads, and wide, flat bills. Like many “dabbling ducks” the body is long and the tail rides high out of the water, giving a blunt shape. In flight their wings are broad and set back toward the rear. Male Mallards have a dark, iridescent-green head and bright yellow bill. The gray body is sandwiched between a brown breast and black rear. Females and juveniles are mottled brown with orange-and-brown bills. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue “speculum” patch in the wing.

Habitat:

Wildlife habitat yard.

Notes:

I have been feeding birds for years, and have had many interesting birds come to my feeders, but this was a first. I was about to let my dogs out in the morning when I saw something moving just beyond the edge of the deck. Imagine my surprise, when it turned out to be these two out there eating the bird seed that had fallen to the ground.