<< Previous Next >>

Mallard Drake


Mallard Drake
Photo Information
Copyright: Hilary Wilkinson (Hil) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 750 W: 11 N: 1442] (4951)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-02-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
Exposure: f/4, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-01 17:47
Viewed: 853
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mallard Drake

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), also known as the wild duck, is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Probably the best-known of all ducks, it gave rise to most domestic ducks, apart from the Muscovy Duck. Mallards also look like Call Ducks, but are larger in size.

It is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south; it is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. It also frequents Central America and the Caribbean, and has been introduced into Australia and New Zealand. It is now the most common duck in New Zealand.

In captivity, Mallards come in wild-type plumages, white, and other colours. Most of these colour variants are rare but increasing in domestic collections.

Description

The dabbling duck is 56–65 cm length, with an 81–98 cm wingspan, and weighs 750–1000 g. The breeding male is unmistakable with a green head, black rear end and a blue speculum edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest. Males also possess a yellow bill with a black tip, females dark brown.

The female Mallard is light brown like most female dabbling ducks. It can be distinguished from other ducks by the distinctive speculum. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.

The Mallard is a rare example of both Allen's Rule and Bergmann's Rule in birds. Bergmann's Rule, which states that polar forms tend to be larger than related ones from warmer climates, has numerous examples in birds. Allen's Rule says that appendages like ears tend to be smaller in polar forms to minimize heat loss, and larger in tropical and desert equivalents to facilitate heat diffusion, and that the polar taxa are stockier overall. Examples of this rule in birds are rare, as they lack external ears. However, the bill of ducks is very well supplied with blood vessels and is vulnerable to cold.

The size of the Mallard varies clinally, and birds from Greenland, although larger than birds further south, have smaller bills and are stockier. It is sometimes separated as subspecies Greenland Mallard (A. p. conboschas).

The Mallard inhabits most wetlands, including parks, small ponds and rivers, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing; there are reports of it eating frogs. It usually nests on a river bank, but not always near water. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks.

A noisy species, the male has a nasal call, the female the "quack" always associated with ducks. (Rogers 2001)

Notes from Wilkepadia.com
lee, bobair, Raptorman, Necipp, Debz, nglen, jeanpaul, Argus, horia, jaycee, Maite, Alex99 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lee Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 38 W: 0 N: 24] (84)
  • [2007-05-01 22:12]

Hi Hilary, a nice capture of the drake. I'm a duck fan and the drake is one of my favorites. Very nice colors and good detail. Nice little catchlight in the eye. Good pose and composition. Thanks.

Lee

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-05-01 22:41]

Hello Hil

A very nice capture of this greenhead.The colours and details are beautiful.Excellent eye contact.The POV is excellent.Nicely done.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • bobair Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 384 W: 83 N: 1252] (4592)
  • [2007-05-01 23:27]

Hi Hil,
what a radioactive looking head Mr.Mallard has,where are my sun glasses?Great colour and details make this a fine shot of the world's most common duck however you have an uncommon shot of him,so thanks for putting him up on TN. Bob

Hello Hilary , perfect colors and comp. also sharpness is very good , TFS. Good luck.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1874 W: 245 N: 6145] (21884)
  • [2007-05-02 9:25]

Hi Hilary,
this is a nice shot with beautiful colours!
Well done,
Joey

Hi Hil great shot of the mallard lovely light and colours good detail technically a fine shot tfs rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-05-02 13:42]

Hi Hilary, you caught good light here on this Mallard. Great colours and fine sharpness. I like the POV with good reflection.
tfs
debz

Hi Hil!
Wow!Nice duck!Great colors and pose!Amazing shot!

Pozdrawiam from Poland ADI!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2129 W: 9 N: 5957] (22516)
  • [2007-05-02 15:40]

Hi Hilary. Great shot of the Mallard. the colour and detail is spot on. With a nice refection. with good light in the eyes. well done.TFs. great note to.
Nick

Hi Hilary
C'est une belle et intéressante composition photographique pour ce superbe canard avec de Jolies couleurs sur le plumage et bonne nettté grâce à la profondeur de champ bien adaptée.
Merci et au revoir...JP

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948] (24747)
  • [2007-05-02 15:53]

Hello Hilary,
This is one of the best Mallard drake shots that I have seen on TN, and there are many.
Not is it sharp and well composed, but you have captured the green iridescence on the head excellently, the light being just right with the catchlight in the eye a little bonus.
Well done and TFS!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2135 W: 224 N: 3948] (13111)
  • [2007-05-03 5:07]

Hi Hilary

Another superb capture from you!
Despite the mallards are quite common here on TN, this still is a charming shot, because of its rich tones and colors and its spot-on exposure.
The details are also great and the ripples on the water really add to the overall composition.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hello Hill,
This is a nice portrait of this colorful male. Colors, details, composition and exposure are very good. You also caught a nice light in its eye and reflection in the water. Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1902 W: 8 N: 4957] (16017)
  • [2007-05-03 11:40]

Hi Hil,

Such a beautiful drake. You caught him in the perfect position to really show him off. The colors are magnificent.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1005 W: 64 N: 1242] (5082)
  • [2007-05-08 10:28]

Wonderful capture of this mallard and its reflection! I like very much the POV and the composition with the soft ripples on the water.
My compliments and TFS, Hilary.
Maite

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3160 W: 148 N: 4787] (15449)
  • [2007-05-10 12:53]

Hi Hilary.
I think this shot is simply outstanding. First, it is true 3D image. Second, all details including fine natural colours are wonderful at highest range. Third, POV, DOF and composition are perfect. Forth…, fifth…, etc. Bravo. Superb. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF