Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Most of the ducks waiting for bread by the lake are mallards. They are also the ancestor of almost all domestic ducks.
| Size | 50–65 cm |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 81–98 cm |
| Weight | 0.75–1.6 kg |
| Diet | Water plants, seeds, insects, small creatures |
| Eggs | 8–13 |
| Where to see it | Lakes, rivers, parks; all year |
The male has a bright bottle-green head, a thin white ring on the neck, a brown chest and a yellow beak. The female is speckled brown. When she sits on the nest, this color hides her.
Both have a bright blue patch called a "speculum" on the wing. In flight it shines together with the white lines along its edge.
They don't dive. They stick their tails up in the air, put their heads in the water and gather plants from the bottom. That funny "bottoms up" look on the lake is this.
I have a request. Don't give bread to ducks. It isn't good for them, and it pollutes the water. Corn, peas or duck feed are much better.
To draw it in DrawBird
Follow the duck lesson. For a male, make the head green, the beak yellow, a white ring on the neck and the chest brown. Don't forget the little blue patch on the wing.
Drawing lesson: How to draw a duck →
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