Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Typically, Mallards have a lifespan of 5-10 years, spending considerable time in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Their diet includes vegetation, seeds, berries, insects, and shellfish. Mallards usually pair up in the autumn and engage in courtship throughout the winter. After hatching, ducklings remain in the nest for at least 10 hours to dry off and learn to use their legs. They generally leave the nest for the first time early in the morning, following the female into the water. The earlier the ducklings access water to feed, the higher their chances of survival. They rely on their mother and take approximately 50-60 days to fledge and attain independence. If a female has a successful brood, she often returns to the same nesting site the following year.

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