Male Mallard Identification
Male mallards are distinctive and easily recognized by their rich colors and plumage patterns. When trying to identify mallards in the field, look for these clues:
Female Mallard Identification
Mallard hens are much more camouflaged than their mates, but they, too, have easy keys to proper identification. These six key field marks are essential for identifying female mallards:
Eclipse Mallard Identification
After the breeding season, male mallards enter a period of eclipse plumage when they are molting their old feathers. When their primary feathers are molting, they are largely flightless and tend to be very reclusive. Seeing an eclipse mallard can be quite confusing, particularly if the birds are in a mixed flock with other ducks. In addition to the marks of a typical mallard drake, looking for these key field marks can help you identify eclipse mallards:
Identify Mallards in Flight
Identifying birds in flight can be a challenge, but any birder can learn to recognize flying mallards. In addition to plumage colors, look for these clues when ducks fly nearby to see if they are mallards: Once you learn to easily identify mallards, it will become even easier in the field to know when a duck isn’t a mallard so you can focus your efforts on its identification.
