Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - HBW 1, p. 605
French: Canard colvert
German: Stockente
Spanish: Anade Azulón
Other common names: Greenhead, Common/Green headed/Northern Mallard (platyrhynchos); Greenland Mallard (conboschas); Florida Mallard/Duck (fulvigula); Mottled Mallard/Duck (fulvigula, maculosa); Mexican Mallard/Duck (diazi); Hawaiian Mallard/Duck, Koloa (wyvilliana); Laysan Mallard/Duck/Teal (laysanensis)
Taxonomy: Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758, Europe.
Forms superspecies with A. rubripes, A. melleri and A. undulata. A. rubripes sometimes considered subspecies of present species. Probable unstable hybrids of present species and A. superciliosa, found on some Micronesian islands, have been considered a different species, Mariana Duck (A. oustaleti). Races fulvigula and maculosa have been partitioned off in a different species, Mottled Duck (A. fulvigula). Races diazi, wyvilliana and laysanensis are also often considered full species. Hybridization recorded wi.. View all taxonomy...
Taxonomy: Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758, Europe.
Forms superspecies with A. rubripes, A. melleri and A. undulata. A. rubripes sometimes considered subspecies of present species. Probable unstable hybrids of present species and A. superciliosa, found on some Micronesian islands, have been considered a different species, Mariana Duck (A. oustaleti). Races fulvigula and maculosa have been partitioned off in a different species, Mottled Duck (A. fulvigula). Races diazi, wyvilliana and laysanensis are also often considered full species. Hybridization recorded with at least 23 other species of genus Anas, often producing fertile progeny, and also with several species of Aix, Alopochen, Anser, Branta, Tadorna, Cairina, Aythya and Somateria. Seven subspecies normally recognized.
Forms superspecies with A. rubripes, A. melleri and A. undulata. A. rubripes sometimes considered subspecies of present species. Probable unstable hybrids of present species and A. superciliosa, found on some Micronesian islands, have been considered a different species, Mariana Duck (A. oustaleti). Races fulvigula and maculosa have been partitioned off in a different species, Mottled Duck (A. fulvigula). Races diazi, wyvilliana and laysanensis are also often considered full species. Hybridization recorded with at least 23 other species of genus Anas, often producing fertile progeny, and also with several species of Aix, Alopochen, Anser, Branta, Tadorna, Cairina, Aythya and Somateria. Seven subspecies normally recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 - most of Palearctic and Nearctic.
- conboschas C. L. Brehm, 1831 - SW Greenland.
- fulvigula Ridgway, 1874 - Florida.
- platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 - most of Palearctic and Nearctic.
- conboschas C. L. Brehm, 1831 - SW Greenland.
- fulvigula Ridgway, 1874 - Florida.
- maculosa Sennett, 1889 - Atlantic S USA to Mexico.
- diazi Ridgway, 1886 - extreme S USA, from Arizona to Texas, S to C Mexico.
- wyvilliana P. L. Sclater, 1878 - Kauai and Oahu Is (Hawaii).
- laysanensis Rothschild, 1892 - Laysan I (to NW of Hawaii).
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Just before copulation, the drake and hen typically float face-to-face and pump their heads up and down. Locality Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp platyrhynchos)
Don DesJardin 12 February 2010 6 years ago 54 sec 5 -
Close views of 2 males and one female foraging. Locality Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp platyrhynchos)
Don DesJardin 11 January 2010 6 years ago 55 sec 4.8 -
From egg to teen. Locality Torfvennteich, Haltern-Lavesum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Christian Wiesmann 16 May 2013 2 years ago 1 min 40 sec 4.8 -
A pair feeding in muddy water Locality Huntley Meadows Park, Virginia, USA (United States) (ssp platyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 5 May 2006 8 years ago 35 sec 4.6 -
A female swimming with two chicks. Locality Westchester Lagoon, Anchorage, Alaska, USA (United States) (ssp platyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 26 May 2012 3 years ago 24 sec 4.6 -
One swimming & one preening Locality Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, Oxfordshire, England, Great Britain (ssp laysanensis)
Joe Angseesing 12 September 2015 21 weeks ago 29 sec 4.5
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Adult male, breeding plumage, drinking
Locality Oasi di Torrile, Torrile, Parma Province, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy (ssp platyrhynchos)
maurizioravasini 23 November 2012 2 years ago 4.9 -
A drake.
Locality Inverleith Park, Edinburgh City Council, Scotland, Great Britain (ssp platyrhynchos)
Lukasz Michal Pulawski 31 January 2015 32 weeks ago 4.8 -
Male in flight.
Locality Washington State, USA (United States)
Vickie J Anderson 3 November 2011 33 weeks ago 4.7 -
Portrait adult male.
Locality Berlin, Germany (ssp platyrhynchos)
Atema Bouke 15 December 2013 1 year ago 4.6 -
A nice drake Mallard flying by in the brlliant winter sun.
Locality Zevenhuizerplas, South Holland Province, Netherlands (ssp platyrhynchos)
Gerard Visser 21 February 2011 5 years ago 4.6 -
A female.
Locality Inverleith Park, Edinburgh City Council, Scotland, Great Britain (ssp platyrhynchos)
Lukasz Michal Pulawski 31 January 2015 32 weeks ago 4.5
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Calls by two birds. Locality Parque del Agua, Zaragoza City, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
(ssp platyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 7 February 2014 2 years ago 4.3 -
Calls by two birds in flight. Locality Chevak, Alaska, USA (United States)
(ssp platyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 23 June 2013 2 years ago 4 -
Sounds by a group of birds while feeding on the water. Locality George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, British Columbia, Canada
(ssp platyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 17 August 2012 3 years ago 4 -
Calls by several birds. Locality George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, British Columbia, Canada
(ssp platyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 17 August 2012 3 years ago 4 -
Several drakes calling and one display calling at the end Locality London Wetland Centre, London, England, Great Britain
(ssp laysanensis)
Stuart Fisher 13 February 2010 6 years ago 4 -
Calls of at least 3 birds flushed from a ditch at night of which the female calls are more prominent Locality Surrey, England, Great Britain
(ssp platyrhynchos)
Stuart Fisher 6 years ago 4
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