Mottled Duck

Description: The mottled duck is easily confused with the mallard hen or with the black duck. Mottled ducks are lighter than black ducks; they can be distinguished from mallards by their blue-green speculums, which are bordered with black instead of white. Both drakes and hens are mottled brown with blue-green black-bordered speculums and orange legs and feet. Drakes have olive green bills, whereas hens have orange bills with dark spots. Drakes are also slightly larger. Average size: 17 ½-24 inches. Average weight: 2-2 ¾ pounds.

Science Some consider mottled ducks to be a subspecies of the mallard. Most breed in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. Mottled ducks do not migrate in the same fashion as other ducks: they move inland in September and October to feed in rice fields and return to the coastal marshes in the winter. They prefer freshwater marshes and flooded grassland, though they may occasionally be found on brackish waters. They feed primarily on fish, snails, crayfish, and aquatic invertebrates, but also eat rice and other aquatic plants. Their call is a quack very similar to that of the mallard. The population is increasing due to expanded rice farming.

Hunting: Mottled ducks are usually taken incidentally by hunters seeking other dabblers. They respond to mallard calls and decoys. The eating quality is fair: the meat usually has a strong taste due to their diet.