Mallard duckling (Anas platyrhynchos) on a grass bank. The mother lays between 6 and 15 eggs, which are incubated for 1 month. The ducklings are lead

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Mallard duckling (Anas platyrhynchos) on a grass bank. The mother lays between 6 and 15 eggs, which are incubated for 1 month. The ducklings are lead to water within 12 hours of hatching. Although able to feed themselves, they stay very close to their mother at all times until they fledge at 2 months old. They reach sexual maturity at 1 year old. The mallard is found inhabiting wetlands throughout the Northern hemisphere. It is the most abundant and widespread duck in Europe. It can grow up to 70 centimetres in length and feeds on aquatic vegetation, insects and worms.

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Size: 3546px × 5244px
Photo credit: © DAVID AUBREY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anas, animal, aquatic, bank, biological, biology, bird, common, duck, duckling, fauna, grassy, juvenile, mallard, nature, omnivore, omnivorous, ornithological, ornithology, platyrhynchos, precocial, single, wildlife, young, zoological, zoology