Anas platyrhynchos

Interesting facts: The mallard duck is the largest and most common swimming duck in Europe. It is in no respect reliant on water-bodies and also breeds away from water. The inconspicuous light brown coat of the female offers perfect camouflage when brooding. Mallard ducks feed predominantly on aquatic plants, small crustaceans and fish when on the water. Their posture when feeding is described perfectly in the German children’s song “Alle meine Entchen”. As omnivores, their feed consists also of seeds, fruits, snails, worms and even frogs.

Characteristics: The male in the mating colours is unmistakably colourful, with a metallic green head and white neck ring, yellow beak, brown breast and upward curling tail feathers; the summer plumage is similar to that of the female, beige-brown striped, but with a yellow beak; both sexes have a distinct blue wing band; legs are orange with webbed feet

Body length: Longer than 30 cm (longer than a blackbird)

Distribution: All kinds of standing and flowing water-bodies, from the coast to in the mountains, often on garden and park ponds, even in city centres