Mallard

(Anas platyrhynchos)

The male Mallard or drake is probably the most familiar and identifiable of ducks - it has a green head, white ringed neck , brown neck and gray body. While one can commonly observe these ducks feeding for small fish and tadpoles by up-ending, they are also content with seeds, nuts, grasses and insects. The Mallard's genus Anas is Latin for duck while the species name platyrhynchos is Greek for broad bill.

Like many other birds, this one also molts once a year. While in this one month molting period they are flightless. Mallards are frequently seen preening themselves. This ritual helps keep their feathers even and intertwined so they have better insulation and buoyancy. Preening also helps distribute oil from uropygial gland at the base of the tail giving the feathers more strength and flexibility.