Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

The male mallard has an irridescent green head and upper neck separated from the chestnut chest by a white ring. The back and wings are brownish gray with an irridescent purple speculum bordered front and back by white. The underparts and sides are light gray, the tail feathers are gray with white borders, and the upper and under tail coverts are black. The legs are reddish orange and the bill is yellow. The female mallard's upper parts are brown, streaked with black. Her throat and foreneck are buff and the underparts are buffy-gray spotted with brown-gray. The male in eclipse plumage is similar to the female.

This species nests throughout most of North America, and winters from southern Canada to Panama. They feed on grasses, grain fields, seed and various surface aquatic plants.

The nest is on the ground, made of grass, dead leaves, and lined with down. Eight to 12 buffy-green eggs are laid.

Alberta is visited in the fall by over 20 species of ducks, from the mallard, pintail, and shoveler through the teals, scaups, redhead and canvasback to the bufflehead and the occasional wood duck. Specific season information is provided in the current Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations, available on-line and in hard copy.