Mallard Duckling
Anas platyrhynchos (duckling)
Mallard ducklings stay close to freshwater marshes, ponds, lakes, and slow rivers where floating plants and shoreline cover offer protection. They feed for themselves soon after hatching, picking at tiny aquatic insects, plant matter, and small invertebrates near the surface. Their downy plumage provides warmth and some camouflage among reeds and dappled water. A notable fact is that ducklings can swim within hours of hatching, though they cannot yet fly.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- Mallard Duckling
- Mallard Juvenile
- Mallard