HUNTING HORIZONS - Worldwide Hunting Seasons Database

The Mallard [Anas platyrhynchos] is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, South America and many islands. It is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south. After the breeding season, mallards form flocks and migrate from northern latitudes to warmer southern areas, some mallards, however, may choose to stay through the winter in areas where food and shelter are abundant.
Length: 56-65 cm; wingspan of 81-98 cm; weight 0.9-1.2 kg.
The mallard is a large and heavy looking duck; it has a long body and a long and broad bill.
MALE: dark iridescent green head, black rear end and a yellowish orange bill tipped with black, distinct iridescent blue speculum edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest and curled feathers on the tail.
NON BREEDING MALE: becomes drab but still distinguishable by its yellow bill and reddish breast.
FEMALE: mainly drab brown with an orange and brown tipped bill, distinct purple speculum edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest.
Mallards consume a wide variety of foods, including vegetation, insects, worms, and aquatic invertebrates, although they are not restricted to these. They also take advantage of human food sources, such as gleaning grain from crops.
A noisy species, the male has a nasal call, the familiar 'quack' of ducks is from the female mallard, the 'decrescendo call', can be heard for miles.