Page 45 - Nov/Dec 2021 Outdoor Oklahoma

COOL FACTS about the Mallard:

• the mallard is widespread in most of the world’s northern hemisphere,
including Europe, asia and north america.
• the male mallard is easily recognized, with a bright green head, yellow bill, and
white ring around the neck.
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• a male mallard is called a drake or greenhead; a female is called a hen or
Susie; the young are called ducklings. • hen mallards are tan
JEnnIFEr BEnGE/ODWC with brown mottling and have orange and black bills. they look
similar to hens from other duck species.

• Mallards are dabbling, or puddle, ducks, and do not dive to feed.
Instead, they tip head-down with tails up in the air when feeding.
• about two-thirds of the mallard’s diet consists of plant materials;
they also eat snails, worms, small fish and insects.
• adult mallards have dark blue patches rimmed with white stripes
on the trailing edge of their wings.
• While some mallards become localized, most are migratory. they
breed in the northern areas of their range, and migrate to the south
tErrY L. KnOX/CC0 during winter.
• the outer layer of feathers is waterproof thanks to a gland near the tail.
Under the top layer is a soft, warm layer of fluffy feathers called down.
• Mallards molt twice a year, losing their primary flight feathers. For
several weeks during the molt, the birds are grounded until new
flight feathers grow in.
• Mallards can weigh up to 3.5 pounds, grow as long as 2 feet, and
can have wingspans approaching 3 feet across.
Color a Critter: Mallard Drake and Hen

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