What does the Mallard eat?

The Mallard's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Omnivore

How it forages

Dabbling duck, feeding by tipping forward to graze on submerged vegetation and invertebrates, or by filtering water through its bill. Also grazes on land. Diet includes seeds, aquatic plants, insects, larvae, worms, snails, small fish, and sometimes human-provided food in urban areas.

When it feeds

Diurnal, but can be active at night, especially during migration or when foraging in safe areas.

Explore the Mallard