RANGE North America
HABITAT Breeds mainly in the Great Plains and Canadian prairies; on migration and in winter, found in fresh and salt water marshes and well-vegetated reservoirs, beaver ponds, farm ponds, and streams
DIET Aquatic vegetation such as algae, grasses, rushes, sedges, pondweed, widgeon grass, and water milfoil; also invertebrates
Males are intricately patterned with gray, brown, and black. The male's narrow bill is mostly blackish. Females often loo square-headed with a steep forehead. Females resemble female mallars, but with a thinner, darker bill. The female's bill is orange with dusky saddle. Both sexes have a white wing patch that is sometimes visible while swimming or resting.
This species is a dabbling duck, tipping forward to feed on submerged vegetation without diving.
At hatching, babies are alert, fully covered with down and eyes open. They are ready to leave the nest in a day or two.
