Small game - birds

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Common Mallard, Mallard or Mallard, also Eshilbash, is a medium-sized representative of the Duck family, order Guscopidae. It weighs between 0.9 and 1.7 kg. Body length 56 – 65 cm. Violet-blue winged mirror with metallic sheen, bordered front and back with black and white stripes. Strong sexual, seasonal and age dimorphism. In summer, the plumage of both sexes is similar, but males have a yellow-green beak. It flies and takes off noisily, its voice is soft, similar to that of domestic ducks. Holoarctic species. Nests in Europe, Asia and North America, southern Greenland and northern Africa, also occurs in Bulgaria. It is acclimatized in Australia and New Zealand. It is a permanent species in the southern parts of its range. In Bulgaria, it is found throughout the year, but it is most numerous during migrations and in winter. It inhabits a variety of wetlands, river overflows, freshwater, brackish and saline water bodies. It requires dense riparian vegetation where it can nest and hide during molting. Avoids fast flowing water. It is most often found in the flat parts of the country, near the Danube River and along the Black Sea coast. Tolerates human proximity. The number of wintering populations is estimated at about 9 million in Europe and Asia, 17-18 million in North America. On average, about 100,000 ducks winter in Bulgaria. The mallard is the most numerous duck species in Bulgaria.