Scientific name: Anas penelope Linnaeus, 1758
Bird group: Ducks
Field characters. 45-51 cm. Male with chestnut-red head and yellow-buff forehead and crown, vermiculated grey back and flanks, pink-brown breast, and black under-tail; square-cut patch on underside pure white. Large white area on forewing conspicuous in flight; speculum dark green and broadly bordered with black. Female differs from female Mallard in smaller size, smaller grey bill, more rounded head, pointed tail, and more rufous plumage. Speculum dusky or blackish with green gloss and enclosed between white wing-bars. Underparts white. In flight shows characteristic white forewing and belly, and pointed tail. Juvenile strongly resembles female but with slightly darker upperparts and less contrast in marking. Male in eclipse like female but with upperparts and crown darker, flanks richer rufous, and forewing white. Bill blue-grey with black tip; legs greyish or yellow-brown.
Voice. Male produces a distinctive, musical, far-carrying whistling note: 'weeuw'. Female has purring or grating growl.
Distribution. Common breeding bird in northern Europe and a common winter visitor in North sea countries.
Habitat. In breeding season, prefers shallow, open freshwaters in lowland or open woodland, or wooded tundra. In winter largely maritime, frequenting muddy coasts and estuaries; a good many winter on lakes, flooded grassland, and reservoirs inland and fly regularly to nearby grasslands to feed.
Food. Generally feeds in groups on land by grazing or on the water by picking up food items from the surface. Diet mainly vegetarian, consisting of leaves, stems, stolons, rhizomes, and some seeds.
Eggs. Without markings, ground colour cream/pale buff. Texture very smooth. Shape subelliptical/elliptical. Size 55 x 39 mm (49-60 x 35-42), weight 42 g (34-48) for eggs laid in captivity. Eggs closely similar to those of Gadwall and Smew.