The Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, is one of the most common and widespread duck species across the Northern Hemisphere, instantly recognizable in parks and wetlands. This dabbling duck is characterized by a high-sitting body when swimming and a robust build. As with many bird species, different terms are used to denote the gender and age of the Mallard, making identification specific.
The Specific Name for the Adult Male
The adult male Mallard duck is specifically called a drake. This is the general term used to describe the adult male of many different duck species within the Anatidae family.
The Mallard drake is often referred to as a “greenhead” because of its distinctive and striking plumage during the breeding season. Drakes grow this vibrant coloration through a specific molt process before the breeding period begins.
Terminology for Female and Young Mallards
The adult female Mallard is called a hen. The hen is responsible for nesting and raising the young. She typically lays a clutch of eggs, which she incubates for approximately 27 to 28 days.
The young Mallards are known as ducklings. These precocial offspring are covered in downy feathers and can leave the nest shortly after hatching. Ducklings have a mottled brown and yellow coloration, providing excellent camouflage.
Visual Distinctions of the Male Mallard
The most striking feature of the Mallard drake in its breeding, or nuptial, plumage is the iridescent, bottle-green head and neck, separated by a thin white neck ring. The drake has a bright yellow to greenish-yellow bill and a rich chestnut-brown breast. The body is largely gray, contrasting with a black rear and the characteristic curled tail feathers on the upper side of the tail.
The female hen, by contrast, has mottled brown and tan plumage all over, which offers camouflage while she is sitting on the nest. Her bill is typically a dull orange with dark blotches, and she lacks the curled tail feathers. Both sexes share a bright purple-blue patch on the wing, called the speculum, bordered by white stripes.
The drake’s flamboyant appearance is temporary. After the breeding season (usually June to August), the male undergoes a complete molt into eclipse plumage. During this period, the drake sheds his bright feathers and temporarily grows a dull, female-like brown plumage to remain camouflaged while he is flightless. A key way to identify the male in this drab state is by his uniform yellow bill, which remains distinct from the female’s orange and black bill. The drake returns to his brightly colored nuptial plumage by late autumn.