Mallard

The mallard is a widespread dabbling duck that breeds across the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia and North Africa. Males have green heads; females are mainly brown-speckled. Both sexes have a white-bordered speculum on the wing, blue in males especially. It is 50 to 65 cm long with a wingspan of 81 to 98 cm and weighs 0.7 to 1.6 kg (Wikipedia, general species account).

It lives in wetlands, eats water plants and small animals, and gathers in flocks. Females lay 8 to 13 eggs on alternate days; incubation takes 27 to 28 days and the ducklings swim as soon as they hatch. It is the main ancestor of most domestic duck breeds and readily hybridises with related wild ducks.