* The most common duck in North America and the northern hemisphere. Probably the most recognizable of all ducks.

* Tolerant of human presence and will adopt a wide variety of watery habitats such as a back-yard fish pond if allowed, a road-side puddle if it lasts long enough, or a narrow thicket covered stream, as well as open marsh-bordered ponds.

* Mallards feed in shallow water by tipping up and by sieving out plants and seeds through their beaks.