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Difference between revisions of "Mallard" - BirdForum Opus

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;''Anas platyrhynchos''
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[[Image:Mallard.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male at front, Female behind<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|mymantra|Paul Sansom}}]]
[[Image:Mallard.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Paul Sansom]]
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;''[[:Category:Anas|Anas]] platyrhynchos''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 +
[[Image:mallard_alok.JPG|thumb|450px|right|Wintering pair in North India, nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Greater Flamingo in the BG, Nazfgarh Wetland and Marshes, Delhi-Gurgaon Border, [[India]], January-2018]]
 
'''Drake'''<br/>
 
'''Drake'''<br/>
 
*Green head separated from a brown breast by a white ring.  
 
*Green head separated from a brown breast by a white ring.  
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*Brown bill with a variable amount of orange around the edge
 
*Brown bill with a variable amount of orange around the edge
 
<br/>
 
<br/>
<br/>
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Both have a white-edged blue speculum<br/>
Both have a white-edged blue speculum.
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'''Eclipse male''' resembles female, but retains yellow bill.
 +
 
 +
Has been domesticated and many unusual Mallards are either escaped domestics or hybrids with such birds.
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
[[Europe]].
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The most abundant and widespread duck in the region breeding throughout [[Europe]] from [[Iceland]] and northern [[Scandinavia]] south to the Mediterranean, on some Mediterranean islands and throughout [[Turkey]]. Rare and local breeder in North-West [[Africa]] and [[Cyprus]].<br />
North America
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Resident or partial migrant in [[Iceland]], the [[British Isles]] and Continental [[Europe]] from [[Spain]] east to the [[Baltic States]] and south to [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]]. Summer visitor to much of Scandinavia and [[Russia]].
 +
'''Vagrant''' north to [[Svalbard]] and south to the [[Azores]] where has bred.<br />
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Also in [[North America]], breeding in the [[USA]] and [[Canada]], wintering to Mexico and the Carribean.
  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
Formerly considered conspecific with [[Mexican Duck]].
 +
====Subspecies====
 +
There are2 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:<br />
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*''A. p. platyrhynchos'':
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:*Holarctic; winters to [[Mexico]], North [[Africa]], [[India]] and [[Borneo]]
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*''A. p. conboschas'':
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:*Coastal south-western [[Greenland]]
 +
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Water.
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Virtually any kind of freshwater from small ponds on farms and in town parks up to the largest reservoirs, and also swamps and marshes.
 +
 
 +
In winter especially, also on estuaries and sometimes on sheltered seas.  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 +
====Diet====
 
Diet includes insects, seed, roots, grain either whilst dabbling or on land.  
 
Diet includes insects, seed, roots, grain either whilst dabbling or on land.  
 
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====Vocalisation====
 
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'''Male''':   Quiet ''kwack'', nasally ''rheb''.<br/>
==Bird Song==
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'''Female''':   Loud traditional ''quack''<br/>
'''Male'''  Quiet ''kwack'', nasally ''rheb''.<br/>
 
'''Female'''  Loud traditional ''quack''<br/>
 
 
<flashmp3>Anas platyrhynchos (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
<flashmp3>Anas platyrhynchos (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
''[[Media:Anas platyrhynchos (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Anas platyrhynchos (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 +
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Anas+platyrhynchos}}
 
{{GSearch|Anas+platyrhynchos}}
*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=191&Bird_Image_ID=1220&Bird_Family_ID=65          View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]  
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<br />
[[Category:Birds]]
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{{Video|Mallard}}
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Anas]][[Category:Videos]][[Category:Bird Songs]]

Revision as of 08:08, 28 August 2018

Male at front, Female behind
Photo © by Paul Sansom
Anas platyrhynchos

Identification

Wintering pair in North India, nominate subspecies
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Greater Flamingo in the BG, Nazfgarh Wetland and Marshes, Delhi-Gurgaon Border, India, January-2018

Drake

  • Green head separated from a brown breast by a white ring.
  • Yellow bill.
  • Curly central tail feathers.

Female

  • Streaked brown body
  • Brown bill with a variable amount of orange around the edge


Both have a white-edged blue speculum
Eclipse male resembles female, but retains yellow bill.

Has been domesticated and many unusual Mallards are either escaped domestics or hybrids with such birds.

Distribution

The most abundant and widespread duck in the region breeding throughout Europe from Iceland and northern Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean, on some Mediterranean islands and throughout Turkey. Rare and local breeder in North-West Africa and Cyprus.
Resident or partial migrant in Iceland, the British Isles and Continental Europe from Spain east to the Baltic States and south to Greece and Turkey. Summer visitor to much of Scandinavia and Russia. Vagrant north to Svalbard and south to the Azores where has bred.
Also in North America, breeding in the USA and Canada, wintering to Mexico and the Carribean.

Taxonomy

Formerly considered conspecific with Mexican Duck.

Subspecies

There are2 subspecies[1]:

  • A. p. platyrhynchos:
  • A. p. conboschas:

Habitat

Virtually any kind of freshwater from small ponds on farms and in town parks up to the largest reservoirs, and also swamps and marshes.

In winter especially, also on estuaries and sometimes on sheltered seas.

Behaviour

Diet

Diet includes insects, seed, roots, grain either whilst dabbling or on land.

Vocalisation

Male: Quiet kwack, nasally rheb.
Female: Loud traditional quack
<flashmp3>Anas platyrhynchos (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

Recommended Citation

External Links


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