Puddle Duck
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
All species
The benchmark puddle duck — adaptable, vocal, and everywhere.
2026 population status
5.86M breeding birds -11% vs. last year
26% below the long-term average.
See the full 2026 survey numbers →Identification
- Drake: iridescent green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, curled black tail feathers.
- Hen: mottled brown with an orange-and-black bill and blue speculum bordered white.
- Loud, classic 'quack' — the sound most calls imitate.
Habitat
Flooded fields, marshes, timber, and any shallow water with food. The ultimate generalist.
Behavior
Feeds morning and evening; loafs midday on open water. Trades between roost water and feed fields, especially after fresh snow or a hard freeze pushes birds south.
Decoy setup
Hen-drake pairs in loose family groups with a clean landing hole. Moderate spinner use early season; kill motion on pressured birds.
Calling
Aggressive greeting and comeback calls early, then feeding chuckles as they commit. Go quiet once they're locked in.
What gets them moving
Cold frontsFresh snowHard freeze up northFalling barometer
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