Anas platyrhynchos
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae
Subfamily Anatinae
♂ Adult male.— Head and neck iridescent green, a white ring almost entirely around neck, broken only the nape; upper back brown; lower back black; wings ash-gray; speculum violet, bordered in front and behind with black and white, the white showing in flight; tail nearly all white; breast chestnut; feathers under tail black; rest of under parts silver-gray; bill and legs yellow; feet reddish-orange.
♀ Adult female.— Upper parts brownish; feathers edged with buff; throat buff; speculum like that of male; breast brownish-buff, spotted with black; lower parts white, spotted with dusky; tail light-colored; bill greenish-yellow; feet yellowish.
The Mallard is a rare or uncommon migrant through eastern New York and New England, occurring in September and October, and in March and April. It occasionally winters off the coast. Its habits are very similar to those of the Black Duck, and it often associates with a flock of the latter. The male is readily recognized by his resemblance to the domestic drake; the female resembles the female Black Duck, but may be recognized by her lighter under parts and by the white in the outspread wing.
Hoffmann – A Guide to the Birds of New England and Eastern New York (1904)
During the 20th century the Mallard became a very common duck throughout New York and New England and many other parts of the world.