Female Mallard                                            Male Mallard

Photographs by Bhupendra Veer Singh Yadav

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a scarce winter visitor to Haryana. This large dabbling duck is found in the wetlands.  Identification: Male has gray back, yellow bill, green head with a white ring around its neck. Chestnut breast, gray flanks, upper-wing coverts and black under-tail coverts contrasting with white tail. Female mallard has orange bill with black central patch, pale brown face, dark cap & eye line, mottled brown and tan plumage.

Order: ANSERIFORMES   Family: Anatini   Size: 15 inches   Wingspan: 36 inches   Clutch Size: 6-15   Brood: 1
Diet: Mostly plant matter, along with lesser quantities of aquatic invertebrates.