An abundant migrant and locally common summer resident throughout Nebraska. Peak migrations occur 2 March to 3 April in spring and 21 November to 28 December in fall. An abundant migrant, common and widely distributed breeding species, and local winter resident.
Mallard is the most numerous waterfowl species breeding in the study area.
A common breeding species in Platte River Valley, in the Rainwater Basin area of the Eastern Plain, and in the Sandhills. Fairly common and locally distributed on the Dissected Plain, Western Plain, and elsewhere on the Eastern Plain. Overall habitat impacts have been less severe in the Sandhills. Modern agricultural techniques have provided waste grain as a food source for winter. That factor, combined with the maintenance of open water areas along the Platte and North Platte rivers, has resulted in the recent establishment of wintering mallards throughout the study area.