92 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Mallard 

 Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus 



Other names — Greenhead; Wild Duck; Gray Mallard (female) ; Anas hoselias. 



Description — Adult male: Head and neck brilliant metallic green, with 

 purple reflections at certain angles; forehead and crown overlaid with black; 

 green of head succeeded by a narrow white ring around lower neck interrupted 

 behind; bill chiefly greenish yellow; iris brown; middle of back between 

 shoulders brownish gray with paler feather edgings; sides of back silvery 

 white minutely barred with dusky; back, rump and upper tail coverts black, 

 with steely blue reflections; tail feathers mostly white with the two middle 

 feathers black and slightly curled upwards, and the two longest upper tail 

 coverts conspicuously curled up; outer surface of closed wing in general 

 brownish gray; axillars and lining of wing white; speculum metallic violet 

 approaching purple, bordered in front and behind with black and white 

 feathers, a black and white bar being thus formed at both front and hind 

 margins; breast dark chestnut; sides and rest of under surface silvery gray 

 undulated Tvdth dusky; under tail coverts black; feet orange red, nails dusky. 

 Total length 23.50-25.25 inches (596-640 mm.) (four specimens) ; folded wing 

 10.85-11.55 (276-293); bill along culmen 2.13-2.44 (54-62); tarsus 1.62-1.83 

 (41-46.5) (seven specimens). Adult female: Head and whole upper surface 

 chiefly deep brown, but variegated with abruptly paler feather edgings; gen- 

 eral tone of head paler, with finer, more streaky pattern than on back; top 

 of head darkest, sides of head lighter with dusky streak through eye; throat 

 very light brownish white scantily or not at all streaked; wings much as in 

 male; ground color of under surface brownish white, deepest in tone on breast, 

 but black feather centers giving a streaked or mottled appearance; sides and 

 chest most heavily marked, belly lightest. Total length 22.25-23.25 inches 

 (565-590 mm.) (two specimens); folded wing 9.95-10.80 (252-274); bill along 

 culmen 1.89-2.27 (48.0-57.5); tarsus 1.63-1.77 (41.4-45.0) (ten specimens); all 

 from California. Eclipse plumage of male (assumed in July and August): 

 Closely resembles dress of female but darker; lacks green of head. In full 

 eclipse plumage male and female can be distinguished only with difficulty. 

 In partial eclipse or post eclipse enough old or new feathers are present on 

 wings to identify the male. Juvenile plumage (at least of female) : Similar to 

 that of adult female but dusky mottlings and streaks duller, less clearly 

 defined; those on breast simple shaft streaks instead of horseshoe-shaped 

 figures as in adult female; wing markings same as in adult. Natal plumage: 

 Whole back and top of head dark brownish green fading to lighter color on 

 forehead; side of head light yellowish brown, stripe through eye, and spot on 

 cheek dusky; brown of back relieved by two pairs of yellowish spots, one at 

 hind border of each wing and one on each side of rump; under surface yellow- 

 ish buff; sides shading to gray and invaded by two brown patches of same 

 color as back. 



Marks for field identification — The large size (total length over 22 inches 

 [558 mm.]), metallic green head, white ring around neck, and violet-colored 

 speculum identify the male. The violet or purple speculum bordered along 

 both edges with black and white distinguishes both sexes in all plumages 

 (pi. 2), except, of course, the natal. In flight the white under wing coverts 

 show forth. The female can be distinguished from the Black Duck, a near 

 relative, by its much lighter color. 



