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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.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 - most of Palearctic and Nearctic.
  • conboschas C. L. Brehm, 1831 - SW Greenland.
  • fulvigula Ridgway, 1874 - Florida.

     See all 7 subspecies
  • 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).
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