Mallards, a dabbler, tips into the shallow waters and pluck seeds, grasses, or invertebrates from the bottom. Will also eat insects from the water surface.
Courtship ritual includes males pumping their head, bill dipping, and rearing up to exaggerate his size. The female signals consent by duplicating the males head-pumping.
Common migration and winter resident at lakes and ponds.
Molting & Eclipsed males are similiar to females but withyellow or olive bill.
VOICE Familiar quaking, most often from female; Female also gives descending series of raspy,“laughing” quacks.
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