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Mallard Duck
Sutton Massachusetts has several ponds and lakes, and mallard ducks can be found at pretty much every one of them. In the spring mallard duck males are easily spotted with their bright green heads. The rest of the year the males and females are both a more mellow brown color, to blend in with their surroundings. Known as Anas platyrhynchos, the duck has a brown body with light brown / whiter dappled patterns throughout it, bright orange feet, and a medium yellow beak. Both the male and female have a bright, shiny blue part of the back of their wing, which you can see in some of the photos below.
This mallard was near the boat ramp at Manchaug Pond in September 2011. The flock of mallards there is quite tame and does not mind humans being close to it at all!
Mallards live all over the United States, and through much of Europe and Russia as well. Baby mallards are bright yellow, and then they become more camoflagued after about a month. Maybe during the first month it's important for the parents to be able to find their babies :)
Mallards become adults just after one year and can live for about twenty years.
Birds in Sutton Massachusetts
Animals and Birds in Sutton Massachusetts
Sutton Massachusetts Photo Collection
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