Jagdreise -

(Anas platyrhynchos)

The mallard is a very widespread dabbling duck in Eurasia and the ancestral form of the domestic duck. It can reach wingspans of up to 95 cm and a body length of up to 58 cm. Except for about two months (July/August), the drakes wear their striking breeding plumage. The metallic-green head with the white neck ring and yellow bill makes them unmistakable. During the molt, the drake wears its brown-gray speckled eclipse plumage with a blue wing speculum, looking very similar to the female duck. At this stage, only the dark bill of the females and the yellow bill of the drakes help to distinguish them.

Mallards are extremely adaptable and occur almost anywhere there is water. They can even be found in densely populated cities. Their migratory behavior varies greatly by region. While ducks in northern areas migrate to warmer regions in winter, ducks in southern areas are sedentary residents. The distances of these migrations can vary significantly. Mallards fly fast and straight, and they are capable of taking off almost vertically.