Florida Mottled Duck

This Florida specialty is a member of the large and complex "mallard-family" of ducks. As its name suggests, it has a fairly uniform mottled pattern, though the neck and head are lighter in color. The bill of the male is yellow to olive green, while the female’s is muddy brown with black “stains”. This non-migratory species is still fairly common on our area lakes, waterways and marshes. Being less colorful and less vocal than common mallards, they often escape notice until a pair explodes from the water in a burst of powerful wing strokes. Look for them in any of our local lakes or while paddling down the quiet waters of Reedy or Shingle Creeks.