Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

The Mallard is a dabbling duck that primarily feeds at the surface rather than diving. Dabbling ducks possess feet located centrally on their bodies, which facilitates walking on land. Drakes (males) exhibit glossy bluish-green heads, while females have brown heads. Both genders feature white-bordered blue patches on their wings, referred to as 'speculum,' which become more prominent in flight. Early autumn, drakes undergo a moulting process called the 'eclipse,' during which they lose colour as they shed their flight feathers. 

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