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Anas platyrhynchos
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. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue “speculum” patch in the wing.
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge: The primary purpose of the refuge is to protect and manage 11,320 acres of habitat for refuge and breeding ground purposes for migratory birds and other wildlife. The Refuge includes about 6,500 acres of uplands, 4,000 acres of open water, 500 acres of wetlands, and 400 acres of croplands.
Some took flight and others slipped into the edge vegetation.
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