Mallard

The Mallard is the
most abundant and
well known of Vancouver's
ducks, and it readily adapts to
people and urban environments
such as Stanley Park The male Mallard
is easy to identify—just look for its green head and iridescent, violet-blue speculum. The
speculum, or coloured wing patch, is a trait common to all dabbling ducks (birds of
the Anas genus), and it varies in colour from species to species.
Some Mallards are present in Vancouver year-round. They are most abundant in winter,
however, when populations may reach 30,000 birds. Sometimes, only their back ends are
visible when they reach below the surface of the water for weeds and other vegetation,
small insects and snails. Around Vancouver, the Mallard has a long breeding season, and
the downy young can be seen as early as March and as late as mid-November.

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