The male Mallard is easily the most recognizable duck species. His glossy green head is well known from ponds in city parks, but they also occur in wilder areas. They are the most common duck in Teller County, partly due to their diverse aquatic habitats, ranging from lakes to ponds to marshes and also creeks and rivers. Mallards are more likely in Teller from early March to late November when more open water is available, but they can also be found during winter in ice-free areas. 

Waterfowl are a large group of birds well adapted to a wet lifestyle and include swans, geese and ducks. They have webbed feet and are skilled swimmers and divers, but many will also roam onto land to graze on vegetation. They have long necks and narrow pointed wings. Some waterfowl are resident, but most are migratory. Most waterfowl have a colorful band on the wing known as the speculum that is best seen in flight. 

Mallards are in a group known as the surface feeding ducks. They feed by grazing near shoreline, wading in shallow areas, submerging their beak while swimming, or by “dipping”, when they tip their body underwater with their backside up in the air. They can spring from the water surface to become airborne. Other surface feeding ducks that are fairly common locally include Gadwall and green-winged teal. Also possible in migration are northern pintail and the cinnamon and blue-winged teals. 

The emerald head of the male Mallard is unmistakeable, with a white ring at the base of the green. Also note the yellow bill, dark brown chest, gray body and black rump with a white tail. The female wears the camo outfit with a mottled brown body but also look for some orange on the beak and white on the tail. Mallards have a dark purple to blue speculum with a white border and juveniles resemble the female. 

In many waterfowl the males enter a phase known as the eclipse plumage from late summer to early fall, when they adopt a more cryptic plumage similar to the female. During this phase the male Mallard strongly resembles the female but retains the yellow bill and solid brown chest and some greenish iridescence may be visible on the head.  

Mallards have classic duck-like quacks, especially the female’s loud laugh-like quacking that sounds like the soundtrack from a Donald Duck cartoon. Also listen for a high-pitched wing whistle in flight. Mallards like to eat plants, insects and small invertebrates and vertebrates and sometimes they will wander into fields while foraging. 

—

Joe LaFleur studied wildlife biology and communications at Colorado State University. He is author of the book Mountain Birds of Teller County and creator of “Better Birdwatching,” a DVD series on North American birds. His betterbirdwatching.com website features a Teller County Bird Checklist and Blog. Contact him with questions and feedback at joe@betterbirdwatching.com.