LC
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Anas platyrhynchos and A. fulvigula (incorporating diazi) (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously treated as A. platyrhynchos (incorporating diazi) and A. fulvigula following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: #http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of _the_WP15.xls#.
Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
Turbott, E.G. 1990. Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand. Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Wellington.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 127,000,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 135,000,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor estimated 2012
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 6.6 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number > c.19,000,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated at 2,850,000-4,610,000 pairs, which equates to 5,700,000-9,220,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations may be stable, fluctuating, decreasing, and others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2015). This species has undergone a large and statistically significant increase over the last 40 years in North America (99.3% increase over 40 years, equating to a 18.8% increase per decade; data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: [Butcher and Niven 2007]) and in 2015 the species's abundance was 51% above the long-term average for the period 1955-2014 (Zimpfer et al. 2015). In Europe the population size is estimated to be stable (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native
Antigua and Barbuda extant vagrant
Armenia extant native yes
Australia extant introduced yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bahamas extant native
Bahrain extant native yes
Bangladesh extant native
Belarus extant native yes
Belgium extant native yes
Belize extant native
Bermuda (to UK) extant native yes
Bhutan extant native
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native yes
Brunei extant vagrant
Bulgaria extant native yes
Canada extant native yes yes
Cayman Islands (to UK) extant vagrant
China (mainland) extant native
Cook Islands extant vagrant
Costa Rica extant native yes
Croatia extant native yes yes
Cuba extant native
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant native yes yes
Djibouti extant vagrant
Dominican Republic extant vagrant yes yes
Egypt extant native
Eritrea extant native
Estonia extant native yes yes
Ethiopia extant native
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) extant native
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant native yes
Fiji extant vagrant yes
Finland extant native yes yes
France extant native yes yes
Gambia extant vagrant
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Gibraltar (to UK) extant vagrant
Greece extant native yes yes
Greenland (to Denmark) extant native yes
Guadeloupe (to France) extant vagrant
Guam (to USA) extant native yes
Guatemala extant native
Haiti extant native
Honduras extant native
Hong Kong (China) extant native
Hungary extant native yes yes
Iceland extant native yes
India extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant native yes yes
Ireland extant native yes
Israel extant native yes
Italy extant native yes
Jamaica extant vagrant
Japan extant native
Jordan extant native yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native
Kiribati extant vagrant
Kuwait extant native yes yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Latvia extant native yes
Lebanon extant native yes yes
Libya extant native
Liechtenstein extant native yes
Lithuania extant native yes yes
Luxembourg extant native yes
Malaysia extant native
Mali extant vagrant
Malta extant native
Marshall Islands extant uncertain
Martinique (to France) extant vagrant
Mauritania extant native
Mexico extant native
Micronesia, Federated States of extant uncertain
Moldova extant native yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes
Morocco extant native
Myanmar extant native
Nepal extant native
Netherlands extant native yes
New Caledonia (to France) possibly extinct introduced yes
New Zealand extant introduced yes
Nicaragua extant native
Niger extant vagrant
Nigeria extant vagrant
North Korea extant native yes
North Macedonia extant native yes
Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) extant native yes
Norway extant native yes yes
Oman extant native yes
Pakistan extant native
Palestine extant native yes
Panama extant vagrant
Philippines extant native
Poland extant native yes yes
Portugal extant native yes
Puerto Rico (to USA) extant native
Qatar extant native yes
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes yes yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes yes
Russia (European) extant native yes yes
Saudi Arabia extant native yes
Senegal extant vagrant
Serbia extant native yes
Seychelles extant vagrant
Slovakia extant native yes yes
Slovenia extant native yes
Somalia extant native
South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands extant native
South Korea extant native
South Sudan extant native yes
Spain extant native yes
Sri Lanka extant vagrant yes
St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) extant native yes yes
St Vincent and the Grenadines extant vagrant
Sudan extant native
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) extant vagrant
Sweden extant native yes yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant native yes yes
Taiwan, China extant native
Tajikistan extant native yes
Thailand extant vagrant
Tunisia extant native
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) extant native
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes yes
United Kingdom extant native yes
USA extant native yes
Uzbekistan extant native yes
Vanuatu extant vagrant
Vietnam extant native
Virgin Islands (to USA) extant vagrant
Yemen extant native yes
Zambia extant vagrant

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Azerbaijan Shahdidi spit
Belarus Mid Prypiac'
Greece Lake Kerkini
Russia (European) Delta of the River Don
Russia (European) Kamsko-Ikski area
Russia (European) Surski reservoir
Ukraine Kyivs'ke reservoir
Ukraine Shagany-Alibej-Burnas lake-system
Ukraine Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays
Ukraine Molochnyj Liman
Ukraine Dnipro delta
Ukraine Yagorlyts'ka and Tendrivs'ka Bays
France Camargue
Afghanistan Hamun-i-Puzak
Iran, Islamic Republic of South Caspian shore, from Astara to Gomishan
Iran, Islamic Republic of Anzali Mordab complex
Iran, Islamic Republic of Bandar Kiashar lagoon and mouth of Sefid Rud
Iran, Islamic Republic of Fereidoonkenar marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Seyed Mohalli, Zarin Kola and Larim Sara
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gomishan marshes and Turkoman steppes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Dez river marshes and plains
Iran, Islamic Republic of Horeh Bamdej
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gavekhoni lake, and marshes of the lower Zaindeh Rud
Iran, Islamic Republic of Kaftar lake
Iran, Islamic Republic of Arjan Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Maharlu
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamoun-i Sabari and Hamoun-i Hirmand
Iran, Islamic Republic of South end of the Hamoun-i Puzak
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hilleh Protected Area
China (mainland) Xingkai Hu Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Tumen River at Jingxin-Fangchuan
China (mainland) Oasis, Desert and Wetland at Mosuowan
China (mainland) Tarim Euphrates Poplar Forest Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Aksu River basin
China (mainland) Bachu Oasis
China (mainland) Hongfeng Hu and Baihua Hu
China (mainland) Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve
South Korea Han-gang river
South Korea Junam reservoir
South Korea Nakdong-gang estuary
Japan Lakes Oyama Kamiike and Shimoike
Mongolia Khar Us Lake
Japan Lake Hyoko
Pakistan Mangla Lake
Pakistan Marala Game Reserve
Pakistan Lal Sohanra National Park
Russia (Asian) Bolon' lake
South Korea Geum-gang river and estuary
South Korea Mangyeong estuary
South Korea Donglim reservoir
South Korea Yeongam-ho lake
South Korea Geumho-ho lake
South Korea Gocheonam-ho lake
South Korea Han-gang estuary
South Korea Tidal flat area of southern Ganghwa-do island
South Korea Sihwa-ho lake
South Korea Cheonsu Bay
South Korea Dongjin estuary
South Korea Gangjin Bay
South Korea Upo swamp
Pakistan Head Qadirabad Game Reserve
India Kanjli Lake
Russia (European) Valley of Terek River (Mozdokski District)
Azerbaijan Aggyol
Azerbaijan Gizilagach
Russia (Central Asian) Lake system near Lotoshnoye village
Kazakhstan Chardara Reservoir
Kazakhstan Sorbulak Lake System
Canada Cumberland Marshes
Bulgaria Straldzha Complex
Bulgaria Shabla Lake Complex
Uzbekistan Achinskoe Lake
Uzbekistan Talimardzhan Reservoir
Kazakhstan Irtysh-Karaganda Waterworks 10
Uzbekistan Sudochye Lake
Uzbekistan Amudarya floodlands near Termez
Uzbekistan Yuzhno-Surkhan (South-Surkhan) Reservoir
Uzbekistan Dengizkul Lake
Uzbekistan Dalverzin State Forestry and Hunting Management Area
Uzbekistan Tuyabuguz Reservoir
Uzbekistan Tudakul and Kuymazar Reservoirs
Uzbekistan Karakyr Lakes
Turkmenistan Zeyit - Kelif
Turkmenistan Soltandag - Gyzylburun
Turkmenistan Turkmenbashy Bay
Tajikistan Kayrakkum Reservoir
Kazakhstan Shaglyteniz Lake and marshes
Kazakhstan Kulykol-Taldykol Lake System
Kazakhstan Lower reaches of the Karatal River
Turkmenistan Jarsay - Khangui
Kazakhstan Koybagar-Tyuntyugur Lake System
Kazakhstan Kushmurun Lake
Russia (European) Varnavinsko-Kryukovskaya irrigation system
Russia (European) Krasnodarskoye reservoir
Uzbekistan Northern shore of Aydarkul Lake
Uzbekistan Karnabchul Steppe
Hungary Lake Balaton
Poland Nysa reservoir
USA Montezuma Wetlands Complex
USA Cache-Lower White Rivers
Germany Greifswalder Bodden
Germany Dümmer
Germany Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (includes the Halligs, Kniepsand/Amrum, Lister Koog, Rantumbecken, Rickelsb
Romania Danube Delta
Romania Lunca Siretului Mijlociu
Kyrgyzstan Water reservation of Northern Chu Valley
Hungary Kis-Sárrét
Hungary Sárvíz Valley
Mongolia Selengiin Tsagaan Lake
Mongolia Otgontenger Mountain
Mongolia Teshigiin Olon Lakes
Kazakhstan Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve
Poland Jeziorsko reservoir
Poland Mietkow reservoir
Kazakhstan Tuzashchy and Karasor Lakes
Kazakhstan Kumdykol-Zharlykol Lake System
Kazakhstan Uyalyshalkar Lake System
Kazakhstan Zhumay-Mayshukyr Lake System
China (mainland) Ulungur Hu and Jili Hu (Fu Hai)
China (mainland) Desert and wetland from Northern Urumqi to Dabancheng
China (mainland) Barkol Lake and grassland
China (mainland) Bosten Lake
China (mainland) Ebi Nur and Kuytun River
China (mainland) Jianhu Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Mengjin Huanghe Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Zhengzhou Huanghe Wetland Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Taipo Hu Nature Reserve
Spain Ampurdán marshes
Spain Ebro delta
Spain Tablas de Daimiel marshes; 'Vicario' and 'Gasset' reservoirs and Malagón lakes

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Aquaculture Ponds suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Aquaculture Ponds suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Canals and Drainage Channels, Ditches suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Canals and Drainage Channels, Ditches suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Ponds (below 8ha) suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Ponds (below 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable breeding
Altitude 0 - 1000 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Primary form used Life stage used Source Scale Level Timing
Food - human - - non-trivial recent
Pets/display animals, horticulture - - non-trivial recent
Sport hunting/specimen collecting - - non-trivial recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Anas platyrhynchos. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mallard-anas-platyrhynchos on 19/03/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org on 19/03/2024.