Identification

Florida Female and Male Mottled Duck
© Marc Epstein

The mottled duck belongs to a worldwide group of approximately 20 species of closely related ducks called the mallard complex. All the species in this complex have a similar body shape, but have varying feather characteristics and coloration that enable them to be distinguished from one another.

The Florida mottled duck is easily distinguished from the male mallard in that the male mallard’s head has bright green iridescent coloration. Distinguishing a mottled duck from a female mallard can be more difficult, however. The neck and head of a mottled duck is lighter colored than its body feathers, whereas the female mallard does not have this color pattern. Also, the female mallard has a broad, white wing bar above and below the colored portion of her wing (called the speculum). The female mottled duck lacks the upper wing bar but may have a faint lower bar.

Because the plumages of male and female mottled ducks are similar, the easiest way to tell them apart is by bill color. The male mottled duck has an olive green to yellow, solid color bill, while the female has an orange to brown bill with dark blotches or dots. These dots are most prevalent on the underside of the female’s bill.