Identificaciones de patp1

Far, distant view of Female and Male mallards swimming in a pond next to the Slough, through what appears to be green Duckweed covering the surface.

Link to my favorite Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) observations:
FEMALE: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197412184
MALE: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188154403
Mallard Couple: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145299840
Mallard Family with Ducklings: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/207058817

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is an aquatic waterfowl in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans (Anatidae) family. "The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa.
Breeding pairs look very different. Males (drakes) have an iridescent green head and neck, yellow bill, narrow white collar, brown breast. Black central tail feathers curl up. Female (hens) have mottled plumage. Mallards, like other ducks, shed all their flight feathers at the end of the breeding season and are flightless for 3–4 weeks. They are secretive during this vulnerable time, and their body feathers molt into a concealing “eclipse” plumage that can make them hard to identify.
Mallard pairs are generally monogamous, but paired males pursue females other than their mates. So-called “extra-pair copulations” are common among birds and in many species are consensual, but male Mallards often force these copulations, with several males chasing a single female and then mating with her. Mallard pairs form long before the spring breeding season. Pairing takes place in the fall, but courtship can be seen all winter. Only the female incubates the eggs and takes care of the ducklings. Nesting sites are typically on the ground, hidden in vegetation where the female's speckled plumage serves as effective camouflage. Hen lays 8–13 creamy white eggs. Incubation takes 27 to 28 days and fledging takes 50 to 60 days. The ducklings are precocial and fully capable of swimming as soon as they hatch. Mallards forage in water by dabbling, submerging head and neck, up-ending, but rarely by diving. It forages on land by grazing, plucking seeds, and grubbing for roots. The standard duck’s quack is the sound of a female Mallard. Males don’t quack; they make a quieter, rasping sound." https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/6930-Anas-platyrhynchos

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/mallard
"Mallards are 18-27 inches (46-69 cm) long. Male's green head contrasts with a yellow bill, white neck ring, reddish chest, and gray body. Female is mottled brown. Upper 2/3 of bill is gray; lower 1/3 is orange/tan. Both sexes show patch (speculum) on trailing edge of wing, blue with white borders."
Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/mallard

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/mallar3/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Anas-platyrhynchos

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 24-25.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, p. 132.

Waterfowl and Herons of Western America: an INaturalist Project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/waterfowl-and-herons-of-western-america

Irene's Ducks, Geese, and Swans (Anatidae) family observations on INaturalist, worldwide: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=6912&user_id=aparrot1

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Merlin Bird ID: How to use/get the portable App (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Found Feathers Resources (comprehensive list with links by INat featherenthusiast): https://foundfeathers.org/resources/
Found Feathers: INaturalist Project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/found-feathers
Found Feathers (worldwide) I.D. Tool: https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php
Irene's Feather observations on INaturalist, worldwide: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?project_id=125924&ttl=900&v=1725598515000&place_id=any&verifiable=any&subview=grid&user_id=3188668

Irene's Ebird Profile: https://ebird.org/profile/MTIwNjIzMg and my worldwide bird checklists: https://ebird.org/mychecklists

Irene's (aparrot1) Profile Page on INaturalist listing Nature Resources (includes online references with links) for Plants, Birds, Fungi, Lepidoptera, Arachnids, Reptiles, Amphibians, Marine Life, Plant Galls, and more: https://www.inaturalist.org/people/3188668