Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
The green-headed duck of ponds and parks everywhere, and the wild ancestor of nearly every farmyard duck.
Read the profileThe species guide
From the everyday mallard to the whitewater-loving harlequin, here are the ducks worth knowing, grouped by the way they live.
Dabbling ducks
Surface feeders that tip tail-up to graze on seeds, plants and insects in shallow water. They spring straight into the air to take off.
2 species
Diving ducks
Compact ducks with legs set far back that dive underwater for plants, mussels and insects. They patter across the water to get airborne.
2 species
Sea ducks
Hardy ducks that dive for shellfish, crabs and other prey. Many spend the winter in rough, cold water along northern coasts.
2 species
Perching ducks
Tree-loving ducks with sharp-clawed feet that perch on branches and nest in tree hollows, sometimes high above the ground.
2 species