 |
| Fact Sheet |
| Scientific Name |
Anas platyrhynchos |
| Wing spread |
36 inches |
| Body length |
25 inches |
| Weight |
2.8 pounds |
| Description |
Mallards are large ducks. From late fall through spring, males have a glossy green head, brown chest, and gray back. Females are a drab brownish gray. Both sexes have a glossy violet blue wing speculum with white bars. |
| Nesting Habitat |
Highly variable in nest site selection, but do best in large blocks of undisturbed grassland cover. |
| Clutch size |
9 eggs |
| Incubation period |
28 days |
| Status in North Dakota |
The mallard is abundant during migration seasons, and commonly nests in North Dakota, and some birds winter in the state anywhere there is open water and food. |
| Food habits |
The mallard is highly adaptive, feeding on a variety of foods ranging from aquatic seeds and grains to acorns. |
| Fun Facts |
The mallard is one of the most researched animal species in the world, and the most abundant in the hunter' s bag. |
