The Mallard's scientific name is Anas platyrhynchos. You can find Mallards on marshy lakes. The Mallard likes to build its nest on marshes. Males have iridescent dark green heads separated from a redbrown breast and brown back by a crisp white neckband. The bill is yellow on males, black and orange on females. Both sexes have a band of bright blue with black and white trim on the upper rear edge of the wing, and much white underwings. Mallards eat mollusks, insects, and a few small fish. The Mallard finds its food by upending themselves in shallow water and plucking vegetation growing on the bottom. The Mallards call is a loud quack.
Source:
Mathews, Daniel. Cascade-Olympic Natural History. Raven Editions,
1988.