Subject: Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos. Above: male. Below: Male and two females

Location: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland

Stock Number: 05-42732 (above) and 05-42736 (below)

Comments: The most easily recognized of North America's dabbling ducks, and one of the most common. The Mallard is also the largest North American dabbler.

Dabbling ducks feed by tipping foward in shallow water, so that its head is under water and its tail is sticking up in the air.