AppearanceMales have an iridescent green head, white collar, chestnut breast, and yellow bill. Females are mottled brown with a distinctive orange-and-brown bill. Both sexes show a violet-blue speculum (wing patch) bordered by white.HabitatAlmost any freshwater habitat: ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, city parks, and flooded fields. Highly adaptable and comfortable around humans.BehaviourThe archetypal 'quack' duck — only the female quacks; males produce a quieter raspy call. Dabbles head-first in shallow water to feed on aquatic vegetation, seeds, and invertebrates. Forms large mixed flocks in winter.SeasonalityYear-round in temperate zones; northern birds migrate south for winter. Among the earliest ducks to return north in spring.RangeNearly worldwide. Native to North America, Europe, and Asia; introduced to many other regions. Ancestral to most domestic duck breeds.