mallard

noun

mal·​lard ˈma-lərd 

plural mallard or mallards

: a common and widely distributed wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) of the northern hemisphere the males of which have a green head and white-ringed neck and which is the source of the domestic ducks

Illustration of mallard

Examples of mallard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Americans, often from San Diego, began to arrive, often to shoot teals and shovelers, gadwalls and mallards during hunting season. —Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025

These decoys are perfect for mixing into a spread of standard mallard floaters. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025

And officials are assuming reports of dead Canada geese, trumpeter swans, and a mallard duck across 11 Ohio counties, including Warren, means that bird flu has reached wild bird populations as well. —Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Several species including mallards, wood ducks, and mergansers can be spotted in the city's waterways year-round, according to Birding Around NYC. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French mallart

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mallard

noun

mal·​lard ˈmal-ərd 

plural mallard or mallards

: a common and widely distributed wild duck of the northern hemisphere the males of which have a green head and white ring around the neck and that is the source of the domestic ducks