Adult female mallard

The mallard is Britain’s most widespread duck. Mallards can be found in both countryside and urban areas. They display sexual dimorphism, meaning the plumage of the female is very different to that of the male.
The female, or duck, makes the familiar quacking sound, whereas the male, or drake, has a much softer call.
Ducks do not need to feed their brood. Ducklings are capable of finding their own food as soon as they leave the nest. As soon as her eggs have hatched, the duck leads her brood to water. Ducklings are downy, and can survive jumps from great heights.