Habitat: "Here birdy birdy..."
Where can you find
the Mallard?
The Mallard can be found nearly
anywhere around the globe where there is a temperate or
sub-tropical climate. Mallards are found throughout North
America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Mallards are also
migratory birds that (in North America) will fly South as far as
Mexico and other parts of Central America during the winter
months.
Their migration from North America to warmer southern climates
usually begins in September or October, and their return usually
begins in late February or March.
Mallards tend to prefer more of a grassland around a pond or
small lake with lots of reeds or a marshy area for its specific
habitat. This is due to how Mallards typically feed. They are
referred to as a 'dabbling duck', which indicates that it tends
to feed on the surface. This can been seen when the Mallard is
on the surface of the water and tips its tail vertically while
submerging its head to look for food beneath the surface.
Mallards will often chose their mates in the fall, but will not
breed until late March or early April that following year. The
very first nests for Mallards tend to appear around March 20th.
For Mallards that migrate long distances, breeding takes place
once they have settled on an appropriate nesting area.