Question

How do many mallards typically look like?

1) They have green heads and bright yellow bills.
2) They have blue heads and red bills.
3) They have brown heads and black bills.
4) They have white heads and orange bills.

Answer 1

Mallards are waterfowl with male ducks sporting green heads and bright yellow bills. Females have brown-speckled feathers for camouflage. This coloration difference between genders is known as sexual dimorphism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mallards are a type of waterfowl, a group that includes ducks, geese, swans, and pelicans. Regarding the appearance of mallards, the correct description is option 1: They typically have green heads and bright yellow bills. This distinctive coloring is found primarily in the male mallard ducks, known for their vivid plumage. Females, on the other hand, have mainly brown-speckled plumage that allows them to blend into their surroundings and protect themselves and their nests from predators.

The adaptive behavior of birds such as the herring gull demonstrates how their physical characteristics can play a role in their survival. While the herring gull has a brightly colored bill used to signal danger to its chicks, the mallard's coloring is more about sexual dimorphism, where the male's bright colors may attract a mate while the female's help in camouflage.