Advice from Owlie – Mallard Duck

Q: Dear Owlie,

I recently visited the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park and noticed two ducks that looked very similar but were different colors! One was all brown, while the other had green on its head. Can you help me figure out what ducks these are? Thanks, Owlie!

Sincerely,

Dabbling Duck

A: Dear Dabbling Duck,

I would be happy to assist you in figuring out what type of ducks these are!

It seems that you have come across one of the most popular duck species in the wetlands, the Mallard Duck! Mallards are large ducks with hefty bodies, rounded heads, and wide, flat bills. The reason the ducks looked very similar but had different colors is due to something called sexual dimorphism. This is when there is a difference in appearance between males and females in the same species.

For the Mallard Duck, males have iridescent green heads, bright yellow bills, and brown and black bodies. Female Mallards are a light brown color with orange and brown bills! Now you may be wondering…what is the reason for this difference in color? Let’s find out!

Male Mallards are a bright color because they want to attract mates, while female Mallards are a dull color because they want to camouflage in order to protect their babies during nesting season!

Keep an eye out for the Mallard Duck on your next visit to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie