Mallard duck
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Mallard duck
Bird
One of the most familiar ducks in the world, commonly found in city park ponds and rivers.
💡 Fun Facts
- The males have glossy green heads, while females are brown to camouflage while nesting.
- They are 'dabbling' ducks, meaning they tip forward in the water to eat plants just below the surface.
- Their feathers are highly waterproof thanks to a special oil they spread from a gland near their tail.
Name Story
Anas platyrhynchos
means “the broad-billed duck (whose name once meant 'the male')”
What does its name mean?
- Anas — duckLatin
- platyrhynchos — broad-billed, flat-billedGreek (platys, 'broad' + rhynchos, 'bill')
- mallard — probably 'the (wild) male duck'Old French
Its Latin name points to the wide, flat bill it uses to dabble at the water's surface. The English name hides a surprise: "mallard" most likely once meant "the male" — which is why, even today, the word brings to mind the glossy green-headed drake first.