Birds of Australia
Common Name: Mallard, Northern
Scientific Name: Anas platyrhynchos
Mallard Male. The Mallard is an introduced species that has gotten into the wild. It will hybridize with the Pacific Black Duck. There are plenty of hybrids, not necessarily with pacific Black Ducks, rather from captive released poultry ducks that will gradually revert over time to pure mallards.
90% of all ducks in New Zealand are Mallards, as Mallards turn up in Lord Howe and Norfolk Island, and Canadian Geese from New Zealand turn up in Australia, it is believed that pure Mallards enter Australia from New Zealand where they were introduced from Europe, Taken at Pier at Saratoga Mar 2013.
Female Mallards, Their orange legs and yellow bills and lighter plumage distinguish female Mallards from Pacific Black females, Pier at Saratoga Mar 2013.
All Mallards have orange legs, Pier at Saratoga Mar 2013.
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