Ashley and Crippen Photographers, Toronto|Corporate Headshots/Executive Headshots 

Birds

Mallard(Female)

The mallard is probably the most abundant and familiar wild duck in the Northern Hemisphere, and is the ancestor of the most domestic ducks. It is common across much of America, not only in the wild but also in semi-wild state around cities and in parks. It nests near water and vegetation, lining a hollow with grass, stems and down, which holds 5-14 eggs. These are incubated for 26-29 days, by the female bird only, and the downy chicks leave the nest soon after hatching but do not fly until 8 weeks later. The male bird has a glossy green head and neck with a narrow white collar, yellow bill, chestnut breast and gray body. The female is mottled sandy brown, with an orange bill marked with black. Both have a white tail, and in flight the wings have a bright blue patch on the upper side, bordered on each side with a white stripe, and white wing linings. The juvenile bird resembles the female, but its bill is dull olive. This species also dabbles, tipping tail-up to forage for aquatic plants, snails insects and small fish.