Are you familiar with the mallard, a bird often seen by winter waters? This bird is actually quite close to our daily lives.
Mallards are about 59 cm in length. During the breeding season, male mallards don their vibrant plumage, resembling a flamboyant costume with a yellow beak, green head, white collar, and a body of grayish-white and dark brown. In contrast, females have a more subdued beauty with blackish-brown feathers edged in yellowish-brown.
Regarding their ecology, mallards are sociable birds that live in flocks. Especially in winter, they can be seen in lakes, ponds, and rivers across Japan. During the wintering period, from late October to December, they form pairs and migrate to breeding grounds in spring.
Mallards are nocturnal. They spend their days leisurely and become active at night. The sight of them foraging for food in fields and watersides is a rare and precious moment. Their diet mainly consists of plant-based foods like leaves and stems of aquatic plants, seeds, and mollusks. While they are good swimmers, they are not adept at diving. They often feed by “upending” in the water, sticking their tails up and heads down, resembling bamboo shoots, which adds to their charm. They are wary, so observing them closely is crucial.
Surprisingly, mallards are the ancestors of domestic ducks. Yes, those white ducks have been bred from mallards. Occasionally, you might see wild domestic ducks, so be cautious!
Mallards can be considered a symbol of Japanese winter. Next time you visit a waterside, try observing these birds and their behavior. Their daily life might feel more familiar to you. Until next time!
