Mallard

How to recognise it

• Male has a dark green, slightly glossy head, thin white collar and purple-tinged chestnut breast
• Female is mottled brown above, pale brown below, with an orange bill and dark grey ridge
• In all plumages, a dark blue glossy speculum bordered by black, then broad white
• Eclipse male looks like the female but has a plain dull yellow bill

Call and song

The male gives muffled, nasal "vähp" calls, often repeated when the bird is alarmed. When courting the female he gives a short whistle, "pjy". The female quacks in a loud series that gradually fades. As a Mallard takes off, its wings make a faint whistling sound.

Where and when

The Mallard breeds commonly throughout Sweden except in the mountains. It is reported all year round and from all 21 counties. It prefers water less than 0.9 metres deep, and egg laying can take place from March to July. Every year 400 000 Mallards are reared in captivity in Sweden. It is not listed on the Swedish Red List 2025.

Food and behaviour

The Mallard is a flexible omnivore, and plant material makes up a large part of its diet, especially during autumn migration and winter. It usually feeds by tipping its body forward to snap or graze plants under water. Outside the breeding season it is very social and forms large flocks. It takes off almost vertically and flies fast and straight. During moult it cannot fly for about a month.