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 submerge its head and neck, sifting food from the water or mud with its bill. Also grazes on land. Diet includes seeds, aquatic vegetation, insects, larvae, worms, small crustaceans, and sometimes small fish.

When it feeds

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

Explore the Mallard