The Mallard is the most common and widespread duck in the Northern Hemisphere and they are also the most frequently hunted duck species. They have small curled feathers that resemble John Travolta’s hair in Grease.

Female and Male Mallard. Photographed by Richard Bartz.

Each week we introduce a new bird from the Ottawa-Gatineau area through our segment on CBC Radio’s In Town and Out. Alex MacDonald, Nature Canada’s Manager of Protected Areas, shares interesting facts about the birds that live in our communities. Be sure to tune-in to “Bird Tweet of the Week” on CBC Radio One 91.5 FM on Saturday mornings from 6am to 9am and listen to past episodes on our website

This episode aired on Saturday April 19, 2014.