Mallard Duck by Allison J and Laura Mallard Duck by Allison J and Laura Mallard is one of the most common type of wild ducks. It is found throughout much of North America, Europe, and Asia. During the breeding seasons, the male is strikingly colored, having a glossy green head, a white neckring, and a purplish-chestnut breast.
Gray feathers cover the back, and the center of the tail has black feathers that curl up at the end.
The female has duller, brownish features. The male loses its bright-colored feathers after breeding and becomes similar in appearance to the female. During warmer months, mallard nest chiefly near northern prairie marshes and ponds. They migrate to southern wetlands for winter. Most mallards nest on the ground.