Mallard Duck

Here is a female.  She is all brown with orange and black bill and small blue and white wing mark called speculum.

The male mallard

Male Mallard

Female Mallard eating the seeds on the ground from the bird feeders.
Mallards grow to 27-28 inches.  The male has a large green head, white necklace and rust brown or chestnut colored chest.  They have a combination of gray and white on their sides. A yellow bill, legs and feet.

She builds the nest on the ground and have one brood a year.  They do migrate to southern states. They like seeds, plants and aquatic insets  They love corn on the ground.

We see Mr and Mrs duck every year.  She has nested in our yard 3 times, and has successfully had one brood born alive. Because she builds it on the ground, small animals tend to raid the nests and destroy the eggs. They come back to the same area each year.   It is said they will return to their place of birth.

On Sunday I caught this family of wildlife.  The bunny was visiting too.

The male is quite protective.  He was making sure the bunny did not interfere  with the female feeding.