The Mallard is a large and heavy–looking duck that is very familiar and widespread in England. It can be found on small and large lakes, slow-flowing rivers, reservoirs, streams, canals and park lakes. The Mallard is often very tame and will often approach humans when looking for food.

The male Mallard is easily recognisable because it has a shiny, dark green head and neck which is bordered by a thin white stripe. It has a bright yellow beak with a small black tip. The breast of the male is a purple-brown and the upperpart and the sides of its body are a grey-silver colour. The female Mallard is brown with darker brown markings with a darker brown eye stripe. The female’s beak is a deep orange colour. Both the male and the female have bright orange coloured legs.

Mallards are quite sociable ducks that can often be seen in small flocks. Mallard pairs can also be seen together in spring and in winter. They often look for plant foods by tipping their heads in the water with their tails stuck out above the surface in the air. This is called ‘up-ending’. Mallards also look for food such as cereals, insects and insect larvae on fields away from water, especially in spring and winter.