Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758    Synonyms: Green-headed Mallard, MALL.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Anseriformes   >   Family Anatidae   >   Genus Anas   

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Mallards are very common ducks and are usually dismissed by birders in search of more unusual species. But because they are so numerous and widespread, Mallards have an unusually large effect on plant seed dispersal in wetlands, according to recent research done in Europe. Mallards forage at night, flying from one wetland patch to another, in search of seeds, stems, and roots. At daybreak, they return to a communal roost where they excrete what remains of their night-time meals. Kleyheeg, et al. (2017) found that the role of Mallards in moving seeds from one wetland patch to another is important in preventing isolated wetland fragments from local extinction of plants that might otherwise be vulnerable to loss.

There are 2,406 records in the project database.

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A drake Mallard in Harford Co., Maryland (2/24/2015). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

Mallards found on the Cambridge waterfront, Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/14/2007). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A drake Mallard in Dorchester Co., Maryland (2/10/2008). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A drake Mallard in Harford Co., Maryland (2/24/2015). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

Three drake Mallards preening at Lake Elkhorn in Howard Co., Maryland (11/15/2013). Photo by Benjamin DeHaven. (MBP list)

Mallard in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/23/2010). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A hen Mallard in Dorchester Co., Maryland (3/2/2017). Photo by Emily Carter Mitchell. (MBP list)

A hen Mallard in Baltimore Co., Maryland (12/5/2012). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

Mallard in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/20/2022). (c) bev435, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bev435 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A hen Mallard in Baltimore Co., Maryland (12/5/2012). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

A pair of drake Mallards in Harford Co., Maryland (1/15/2018). Photo by Austin Jennings. (MBP list)

Mallard in Frederick Co., Maryland (12/21/2022). No rights reserved. Photo by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallard in Dorchester Co., Maryland (3/9/2019). (c) jamestetlow, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jamestetlow via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallard in Montgomery Co., Maryland (2/19/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Mallard in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/2/2014). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A Mallard in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/6/2019). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Mallard in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (1/27/2006). Photo by Gary Van Velsir. (MBP list)

Mallard in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/12/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallards in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/7/2015). Photo by Edwin Guevara. (MBP list)

Drake Mallards in flight in Baltimore City, Maryland (12/29/2014). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

A hen Mallard in flight in Joppatown, Harford Co., Maryland (2/24/2015). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A female Mallard in flight in Harford Co., Maryland (4/5/2014). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A Mallard nest with eggs in Garrett Co., Maryland (4/30/2011). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Mallard nest with eggs at Chino Farms in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/19/2012). Photo by Maren Gimpel. (MBP list)

Mallards in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (1/19/2022). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallard ducklings in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/10/2017). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Mallard in Talbot Co., Maryland (5/6/2022). (c) portofbaltimore, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by portofbaltimore via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallard in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/28/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallard in Dorchester Co., Maryland (2/7/2016). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Mallard in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/8/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallard in Montgomery Co., Maryland (12/23/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallard in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/5/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Mallards with a Greater White-Fronted Goose and Canada Geese in Garrett Co., Maryland (2/2/2020). Photo by William Blauvelt. (MBP list)

A male American Black Duck x Mallard hybrid at Ocean Pines, Maryland (11/2/2008). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Mallards flying by at night in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (11/8/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)


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