Female mallards, or hens, have mottled brown and buff plumage for camouflage and build their ground nests near water. They are responsible for laying between nine and thirteen eggs, incubating them for about a month, and leading their ducklings to food and water after they hatch. Both sexes have an iridescent purple-blue speculum on their wings, bordered by white.
Appearance
Plumage: Mottled brown and buff feathers provide camouflage, especially on the ground.
Head: A dark crown and an eye-stripe are visible, with buff cheeks and a darker throat.
Bill: The bill is orange with dark markings.
Wings: Both males and females have a distinct iridescent purple-blue "speculum" on their wings that is edged with white.
Nesting and reproduction
Nest building: They build nests on the ground, often in a depression lined with grasses, leaves, and down from their own bodies.
Eggs: A typical clutch has nine to thirteen eggs, though they can lay up to 18.
Incubation: The female incubates the eggs for about a month.
Parental care: Once ducklings hatch, they are able to walk, swim, and feed themselves, but the female leads them to food and keeps them safe.
Diet and behavior
Diet: As omnivores, they eat aquatic vegetation, insects, worms, and snails.
Adaptability: Mallards are highly adaptable and can even nest in urban areas like city parks if a small body of water is nearby.
Flight: They are known to be able to take flight directly from the water when alarmed.
