Waterfowl

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

The most familiar duck in the world. Males sport brilliant iridescent green heads, yellow bills, and chestnut-brown chests. Mallards are common year-round residents on Kodiak's fresh and brackish waters.

Where to look

Buskin River, Womens Bay wetlands, ponds near Kodiak town, and Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park.

Habitat

Ponds, rivers, estuaries, and wetlands.

Diet

Seeds, aquatic plants, insects, and invertebrates.

Natural history note

Mallards are the ancestors of nearly all domestic ducks and can hybridize with many other dabbling duck species.