Category: Birds
One of North America and Eurasia’s most iconic ducks, the stately mallard is common in ponds and lakes, as well as wetlands and estuaries. They have long been a favorite for the table and most domestic ducks are descended from the wild mallard. Due to their highly malleable gene code, mallards can display considerable phenotypic variation within their species.
A Truly Amazing Race…
Many species of birds migrate when the weather changes, but some species take their journeys to extremes. The Arctic tern tops this list: it flies from the Arctic to Antarctic and back again every year of its life! In 2013, scientists tracked Arctic terns nesting in the Netherlands and discovered that they flew 56,000 miles per year! With a lifespan of approximately 30 years, this means these birds fly over 1.5 million miles over the course of their lives! Because the distance they migrate is so enormous, they don’t just get better weather and more abundant food each year, they get more daylight than any other animal on the planet!
Learn more >>
Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
