# Mallards, Pintails, And Allies (*anas*) Mallards and pintails are beautiful ducks that love to swim in ponds and rivers. They have colorful feathers and make cheerful quacking sounds! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** They live in wetlands, lakes, and rivers, often found in parks and gardens. - **Also known as:** Mallard Ducks, Quackers ![Mallards, Pintails, And Allies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Female_mallard_nest_-_natures_pics_edit2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Female_mallard_nest_-_natures_pics_edit2.jpg) ## Appearance The Mallards, Pintails, And Allies display diverse plumages; male Mallards feature an iridescent green head with a white neck ring, while male Northern Pintails boast a distinctive long, needle-like tail and a white neck stripe. Females of both species typically show mottled brown patterns for camouflage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Anas ## Interesting facts - A group of ducks on the water is actually called a 'raft'! - Ducks have an extra eyelid that acts like goggles underwater! - Many ducks make a distinctive 'quacking' sound, but not all species do! - Some ducklings can swim and find food just hours after hatching! ## Special abilities - **Dabbling Diner:** Mallards, Pintails, And Allies can feed underwater without completely submerging because of their flexible necks and specialized bills, which help them filter small food items. - **Powerful Migrators:** Mallards, Pintails, And Allies can fly thousands of miles to find suitable breeding or wintering grounds because of their strong wings and efficient flight patterns. - **Waterproof Wonders:** Mallards, Pintails, And Allies have waterproof feathers that help them stay dry and warm in water because they apply oil from a special gland to their plumage. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-75 cm - **Wingspan:** 80-100 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 7-13 - **Incubation:** 22-28 days - **Migration Distance:** 2500 km ## Diet & Feeding These ducks are omnivores, eating both plants and small animals they find in the water or on land. - **Age differences:** Ducklings initially eat mostly insects and invertebrates for protein, gradually incorporating more plant material as they mature. - **Primary Foods:** Aquatic plants, Seeds, Grains, Insects, Worms, Small crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Red Foxes are common predators of duck eggs and sometimes adult ducks. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — Large fish like Northern Pike can prey on ducklings in the water. - **Shelter:** Broadleaf Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — Cattail marshes provide essential nesting sites and cover for ducks. - **Depends on:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Mallards depend on various aquatic plants like Zostera marina for food. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger Always watch ducks from a distance and do not feed them bread. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mallards, Pintails, And Allies? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mallards, Pintails, And Allies? 45-75 cm ### What is Mallards, Pintails, And Allies's wingspan? 80-100 cm ### How much does Mallards, Pintails, And Allies weigh? 0.7-1.6 kg ### How long does Mallards, Pintails, And Allies live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Mallards, Pintails, And Allies move? 80 km/h ### What does Mallards, Pintails, And Allies eat? These ducks are omnivores, eating both plants and small animals they find in the water or on land. ### Where is Mallards, Pintails, And Allies usually found? They live in wetlands, lakes, and rivers, often found in parks and gardens. ## Where to spot - [LaCosta Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lacosta-wetlands) — Florida, US · Park - [Toyanogata Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/niigata-prefectural-toyanogata-park) — Chubu, JP · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Mallards, Pintails, And Allies Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mallards-pintails-and-allies)