FEMALE MALLARD

The name mallard comes from the Old French malart (12c.) “wild drake or duck," Or Medieval Latin mallardus, from male, from the Latin masculus, which probably meant any wild male duck.

Whichever way mallards came upon their name it’s the duck from which domestic ducks are descended. It’s also the most common, almost cosmopolitan, wild duck, Anas platyrhynchos.
A mallard drake’s head shines with gaudy iridescence, but when you look closely at the female, she’ll tell you she’s no slouch either in the category of beauty.

She’s no drab dabbling duck.