One of the prettiest birds indigenous to North America are Mallard ducks. The males have brilliant markings and make for fun and rewarding photography. The females and juvenile birds ars are a mottled brown with orange and brown bills.
I don't own a fancy DLR (yet) so all my photos come from the native camera on my MotoX Pure Edition smartphone.
These photos were captured in Erie, Pennsylvania at the dock last summer during the Pokemon craze. My daughter and kids all went hunting for virtual creatures. I am always looking for photo opportunities and these waterfowl hang by the dock hoping for free food, which inevitably makes it to them.
The beautiful green hood on the male Mallard makes him a striking photographic subject. His white collar separates a deep brown breast and dark wings below his flight feathers set him off like a prince on the water.
Because of the contrast of colors the males also make nice black and white edits possible. I can play for hours with photo apps getting one I fancy. These were edited using PicsArt. It's one of my favorite.
Mallard Facts
Mallard ducks are scientifically named Anas platyrhynchos.
They are classified as "dabbling ducks" so named because they feed in the water grazing with their bright yellow beaks. They eat natural insects, mollusks and seeds. They are omnivores and forage for a wide variety of fare.
Mallard ducks are the most widely known duck species and live through out North America and Eurasia in ponds, marshes and wetlands.
Mallard ducks are easily domesticated and are related to almost all domestic ducks, apart from the Muscovy duck.
Mallard ducks live from 5-10 years in the wild. .
A Mallard duck weighs between 1.6 and 3.5 pounds and can fly up to 55 miles per hour.
Typically monogamous birds, a Mallard union will last only a year.
Some paired males will pursue females other than their mates. These unions are refered to as "extra copulations" and the behavior is common among birds and in many birds are consensual to the activity, but male Mallards are known to force these copulations, with several males chasing a single female and then mating with her.
The oldest duck to have lived in the United Kingdom was a female mallard duck called Desi owned by Ingrid Raphael from Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK that lived to be 20 years 3 months and 16 days old before she died in August 2002. Guiness Book of Records.
I enjoy capturing ducks while they play and squabble on the shore. Living close to Conneaut Lake permits me to do a lot of duck and Canadian Goose watching.
Do you live near ducks or other water birds? I'd love to see what's near you.
This guy was playing it cool by the water and watching the ducks forage. But seagulls are another subject! Hey, why all the fuss over ducks!
