The mallard is a large duck, weighing up to 1.3 kg. Its wing span is about 750 mm. The male mallard has a glossy green head and a white collar around the neck. It has a brown breast and white belly with grey wings. The female is a mottled brown all over. Both male and female have orange feet and a bright blue patch of feathers in their wings.

Mallards eat water plants and many kinds of insects and small boneless animals when they are in the water. They will duck their heads under the water to find their food or grab things on the surface. On land, mallards will eat many kinds of plants and seeds, and insects.

Mallards live in lakes, marshes and slow moving rivers and streams. They can be found in Manitoba from spring until autumn. They migrate south to where the lakes and ponds don't freeze, to spend the winter. Foxes, coyotes, mink and many other animal hunters will try to catch and eat mallards on land. Mallards will jump into the water or fly away to avoid these enemies. When mallards are scared they can spring right out of the water and fly off. Large birds of prey like the goshhawk or pergrine falcon will attack mallards when they are flying. People hunt for mallards and other ducks and geese in the autumn. Raccons, foxes and skunks will eat mallard eggs if they can find a nest.

Mallards mate in the spring when they return north. After the female has laid all her eggs the male leaves to spend the summer feeding. The female builds a nest of grass and twigs, lined with down feathers. The nest is hidden among tall grass or thick plants, often far from the water, so that their enemies can not find them. The brown colour of the female helps her to hide as she sits on the nest. She lays 5-14 eggs. It takes about 4 weeks for them to hatch.

The downy young leave the nest soon after hatching. The mother leads them to the water. The ducklings find food for themselves, mostly insects and water plants.The mother watches for enemies and guides her young to safe places to feed. If there is danger, the ducklings will hide among the reeds or other plants at the water's edge, while the mother flaps her wings and quacks to confuse the attacker. When they are about 2 months old the young ducks can fly and they leave their mother.