Come identificare Mallard

Per identificare correttamente Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), controlla ciascuna di queste caratteristiche. Gli uccelli possono essere complicati da riconoscere, perché comportamento, habitat e canto spesso confermano ciò che una sola foto non può.

Dimensioni a colpo d'occhio

Lunghezza

50-65 cm (20-26 in)

Apertura alare

81-98 cm (32-39 in)

Peso

720-1580 g (1.6-3.5 lbs)

Caratteristiche fisiche da controllare

1. 1

   Piumaggio

   Colorazione e disegno generale del piumaggio.

   Male (drake) in breeding plumage: iridescent green head and neck, white neck ring, chestnut breast, grey flanks, black rear, and a curled black central tail feather. Female (hen): mottled brown plumage with a dark eye-stripe and an orange-brown bill. Both sexes have a distinctive iridescent blue speculum (wing patch) bordered by white.

2. 2

   Forma del becco

   Forma e colore del becco, un segno di campo chiave.

   Spatulate (flat and broad) bill. Male's bill is yellowish-green, female's is orange with a dark saddle or blotches.

3. 3

   Colore degli occhi

   Colore dell'iride e segni distintivi sugli occhi.

   Dark brown.

4. 4

   Colore delle zampe

   Colore di zampe e piedi.

   Orange to reddish-orange in both sexes.

5. 5

   Caratteristiche distintive

   Tratti distintivi che separano questa specie.

   The male's green head and white neck ring are unmistakable. The blue speculum on the wing is a key identifier for both sexes in flight or when wings are partially open. The female's mottled brown plumage is typical of many dabbling ducks, but the orange bill with dark markings and blue speculum help distinguish it.

6. 6

   Aspetto giovanile

   Come i giovani si differenziano dagli adulti.

   Juveniles resemble adult females, but are generally duller with less distinct markings. Young males may show hints of green on the head and chestnut on the breast as they mature.

7. 7

   Cambiamenti stagionali

   Variazione del piumaggio tra stagione riproduttiva e non.

   Males undergo an 'eclipse' plumage after breeding (late summer to early autumn), where they resemble females, becoming duller brown with some residual green on the head. They regain their vibrant breeding plumage by late autumn/early winter.

8. 8

   Dimorfismo sessuale

   Differenze tra maschi e femmine.

   Pronounced. Males are much more brightly colored with the distinctive green head, white neck ring, and chestnut breast. Females are cryptically colored in mottled browns for camouflage during nesting.

Segni di campo chiave

• Male Plumage (Breeding). Look for the iridescent green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and grey body. The yellow-green bill is also distinctive.
• Female Plumage. Observe the mottled brown body, dark eye-stripe, and orange bill with dark markings. The overall pattern is less uniform than some other brown ducks.
• Speculum. Both sexes have a bright iridescent blue speculum (wing patch) bordered by white. This is visible in flight or when the wings are slightly open, and is a key field mark.
• Bill Color and Shape. Males have a yellowish-green bill; females have an orange bill with a dark saddle or blotches. The bill is broad and flat (spatulate).
• Vocalization. Listen for the female's classic loud 'quack' series. Males have a softer, rasping 'raeb' and a courtship whistle.
• Behavior. Observe their dabbling feeding behavior, tipping head-first into shallow water. They are often seen in mixed-species flocks with other dabbling ducks.

Esplora Mallard