Mallard Ducks – A Real Threat

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Mallards are a particularly unwelcome invasive alien species in South Africa where they are known to hybridise with species from the genus Anas (nine species in Southern Africa), including the Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata), African Black Duck (Anas sparsa) and Cape Shoveler (Anas smithii).

Mallards pose a serious threat to indigenous duck species in many countries around the globe, with lessons learnt from countries such as Hawaii and New Zealand. These threats include competitive displacement, disturbing water quality and hybridisation. The problem is exacerbated when hybrid offspring are fertile, as in the case of the Mallard and Yellow-billed Duck.

Identifying features of the MALE Mallard:

  • Bill: Lemon-yellow throughout the bill.
  • Legs and feet: Orange.
  • Head and neck: Shiny green head with a narrow white collar just above the chest.
  • Body: Chestnut-coloured breast with light grey sides and wings. There is a purple patch on the lower wing.
  • Tail: Males have a characteristic curled tail.
mallard male

TRUE MALLARD MALE: Green head, yellow bill and white collar, just above the chest.

Identifying features of the Female Mallard

  • Bill: Light grey bill, often with yellow infusions.
  • Legs and feet: Orange.
  • Head and neck: Light brown to grey with darker black streaks. There is often a distinct white eyebrow stripe above the eye with a darker stripe running through the eye.
  • Body: The plumage is light brown with darker black infusions throughout the wings and body. On the lower wing is a dark blue speculum – a purple patch bordered by white.
mallard female

TRUE MALLARD FEMALE: Look for the lighter eyebrow stripe and dark stripe along the eyes.

HYBRID MALLARDS: White quackers and ducks with orange-coloured feet are defined as Mallard hybrids.

white quakers orange feet

CURL OR NO CURL: Male (drake) Mallards have curly tails

curly tail

Under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) No. 10 of 2004, Mallards are designated as a Category 1b Invasive Alien Species.

This legislation states that:

  • No person may import, trade or breed Mallards.
  • Mallards need to be managed as part of an invasive control plan.
  • Once the control plan has been adopted in an area, no person may, without a permit, possess any Mallards.

Report Mallard sightings on http://www.ispot.org.za. Never confuse Mallards with our indigenous ducks!

Black African Duck

Black African Duck

cape teal

Cape Teal

yellow billed duck

Yellow Billed Duck

 

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About Midlands Conservancies Forum

Welcome to the Midlands Conservancies Forum Blog. The conservancy movement in South Africa has its roots in KZN Midlands with Balgowan being the first conservancy established in 1978 by landowners in the area who were concerned about the reduction in the number of game and general degradation of the environment. Today there are 14 conservancies within or overlapping the Umgeni Local Municipality. In keeping pace with international environmental issues and the ever-increasing threat to our dwindling biodiversity the conservancy movement has expanded its influence to include challenges way beyond the founding concerns for the reduction in game and general degradation of the environment. The fact of the matter is that, at the very least, the state of the environment in the KZN Midlands is of vitally and direct importance to well in excess of 3 million people who depend largely on this region for their fresh water. In terms of global the planet has 34 biodiversity hotspots which are the Earth’s most biologically rich and threatened areas. These hotspots hold especially high numbers of unique species, yet their combined area now covers only 2.3 percent of the Earth's land surface. South Africa is home to 3 of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots and the Midlands not only falls into the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot but is one of the 21 priority nodes that have been identified by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund for investment aimed at securing existing biodiversity. The Midlands Conservancy Forum is proud to have been awarded a two year grant that has been used to establish the MCF Biodiversity Stewardship project that is working closely with KZN Wildlife. The reality of the Conservancy movement is that it has until know been championed by volunteers who are landowners and, in many cases, have precious little time and therefore this needs to be used to the maximum potential. This has lead to the establishment, and current success, of the MCF. It is an ideal forum to share knowledge, experiences and collectively tackle common issues in the most co-0rdinated and effective way possible. It is also a forum that has the capacity, through its landowner support base, geographical influence and biological inventory, to attract funding for critical environmental projects. It is also a forum for any and all government departments, NGOs and industries to engage with environmentally minded landowners. Through this blog we hope to promote the aims of the MCF in general and the sharing of information in particular. It is your platform to express and respond to ideas and concerns. Please use it wisely and respectfully!

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