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...
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
-
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 3 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 3 years ago 55 sec 4.8 -
A female swimming with two chicks. Locality Westchester Lagoon, Anchorage, Alaska, USA (United States) (ssp platyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 26 May 2012 42 weeks ago 24 sec 4.6 -
A female preening. Locality Antwerp Province, Belgium (ssp platyrhynchos)
Jeremiusz Trzaska 20 December 2010 2 years ago 30 sec 4.5 -
Lateral views of a drake and hen swimming together as an apparent bonded pair. Locality Ventura, Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp platyrhynchos)
Don DesJardin 30 December 2008 4 years ago 32 sec 4.5 -
Duck flipping in UltraSlo motion at 1900 frames per second. Locality Long Island, New York, USA (United States) (ssp platyrhynchos)
UltraSlo 19 February 2009 4 years ago 1 min 38 sec 4.5
-
A nice drake Mallard flying by in the brlliant winter sun.
Locality Zevenhuizerplas, South Holland Province, Netherlands (ssp platyrhynchos)
Gerard Visser 21 February 2011 2 years ago 4.3 -
a mexican duck anas diazi
Locality El Cedazo Dam, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes State, Mexico (Northern) (ssp diazi)
Luis Felipe Lozano 20 March 2007 18 weeks ago 4.3 -
On a mirror
Locality Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (ssp platyrhynchos)
Guy Poisson 19 November 2009 2 years ago 4.3 -
Female on a tree.
Locality Maksimir Park, City of Zagreb, Croatia (ssp platyrhynchos)
Bojan Bencic 1 April 2010 2 years ago 4.2 -
Duckling.
Locality Waterloo Park, Waterloo, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada (ssp platyrhynchos)
Miriam Bauman 5 August 2009 1 year ago 4.2 -
A pair of drakes on a lake
Locality Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, Arcata, Humboldt County, California, USA (United States)
AndrewSmith 27 October 2011 19 weeks ago 4.2
-
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 31 weeks ago 4 -
Calls by several birds. Locality George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, British Columbia, Canada
(ssp platyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 17 August 2012 31 weeks 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 3 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 4 years ago 4
Email this page