Anas platyrhynchos , commonly known as the , is the most widespread and recognizable dabbling duck in the world. It is the biological ancestor of nearly all domestic duck breeds. Quick Facts Scientific Name: Anas platyrhynchos
Mottled brown plumage for camouflage, with a dark crown and eye-stripe. anas platyrhynchos
Most populations are highly migratory , moving from northern breeding grounds to warmer southern latitudes for winter. Anas platyrhynchos , commonly known as the ,
Mallard (Males are called drakes ; females are hens ). Most populations are highly migratory , moving from
Omnivorous dabblers. They feed on seeds, aquatic vegetation, insects, crustaceans, and occasionally small fish by tipping forward in the water rather than diving.
For more detailed species accounts, you can visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or the Animal Diversity Web .
Hens typically lay a clutch of 9 to 13 eggs in a nest concealed on the ground near water. Incubation lasts about 26–28 days. Scientific & Economic Importance