Mallard Duck (Howard)

Ducks are so commonplace that I never pay much attention to them.  I recognize them as being less aggressive than geese, so my mind blends them into the background.  Another early morning walk along Manatawny Creek gave me some time to observe a family of ducks.  I watched a mother lead her ducklings down the creek.  It was June 3rd at 6:15 a.m. and already in the 70s.  I envied their time in the cool water.  After I sat still on a nearby bench for a while, a few male Mallards swam into view to bathe and preen their feathers.

Male Mallard Ducks are distinguished by their shiny, deep green heads that seem to have a bright white choker necklace separating that green from the rest of them.  They have yellow beaks, brown chests, and a light brown body.  While females are speckled brown on their whole body for camouflaging, they are distinguished by a dark saddle shape on their orange beaks.  Both sexes have an almost iridescent blue bar on each wing that is highlighted with a white border.