What is the difference between a Mallard and a Duck?

A mallard is also known as a wild duck. There are populations of these ducks in moderate and subtropical climates of North America, Europe, and Asia. The male mallards are vibrantly colored with a shiny green head and whitish neck.

The female mallards are brown with streaks. When breeding season arrives, the males become even more impressive in color. These animals populate wetlands and feed on plants and animals. Ducks have extensive diversity with many combinations of colors, as there are over 100 different ducks’ species.

Ducks are omnivores, which implies they eat both plants and animals. The necks they have are relatively short, and their bills have pectin to filter their feed. Filter feeders occupy the surface of the water while diving ducks can scavenge underwater.

The main difference between a Mallard and a duck is that a Mallard is a specific type of duck that usually dabbles. Duck is known to be a common name that can be used to any member of the duck family. One thing that you will notice about the mallard duck is that the male bird will usually have a glossy green head.

The wings of the mallard duck will be grey. The females, on the other hand, will be brown speckled. Take note that a Mallard will also be bigger as compared to other ducks. Take note of the colors of ducks so that you will know if you are looking at a Mallard duck or not.

Ducks are mainly aquatic birds that can live in salt and freshwater. There are over 120 different species of ducks. Ducks live everywhere in the world except for Antarctica.

Ducks make different types of sounds ranging from a low grunting quack; high pitched whistling sound. Most of the male ducks are quiet; all ducks have waterproof feathers. The feeding method of ducks includes prey items like grasses, aquatic plash, fish, amphibians, insect, and Mollusca’s.

Mallard is the most popular ducks in the North American, Eurasian wetlands, parks, and ponds. The male and female species look different from each other, meaning that they are sexually dimorphic species.

The male species are easily identified because they have a green head, and the females are brown. The mallards make the popular quack sound that most people regard as the sound of ducks.

There is no big difference between a duck and a mallard. The relationship that exists between a duck and a mallard is the same that exists between a snake and a python. This shows that duck is the common or general name of any aquatic birds of the family Anatidae, and mallards are arguably the most common species of duck, especially in Eurasian wetlands, North American, ponds and parks.

There are certain characteristics of mallards that make them be different from other species of duck. For instance, male mallards and female mallards don't look alike. A male mallard tends to have a very bright green head while a female mallard is brown in color.

Generally, ducks feed on plants, invertebrates, insects, fish, etc. Another common feature of all ducks is that their feathers are waterproof. However, it is important to know that most domestic ducks or birds came from mallards.