Mallards
Lone Wake
A solitary mallard cuts a dark line across calm water, turning a simple swim into a minimalist winter scene. Even when they seem relaxed, mallards constantly scan for open water, feeding opportunities, and the easiest routes between resting spots on the lake.
License: Public Domain
Classic Drake Portrait
This drake shows the field marks almost everyone recognizes: emerald head, yellow bill, chestnut breast, and pale gray body. Mallards are the template for many other dabbling ducks, and their familiar look makes them one of the easiest waterfowl species to follow through the seasons at Lake Koshkonong.
License: Public Domain
Snowline Swim
A bright drake glides along the edge of lingering snow, where winter and open water meet in a clean curve. Mallards are tough, adaptable ducks, often remaining on partly open water long after more delicate species have moved on.
License: Public Domain
Quiet Winter Water
Centered in soft concentric ripples, this mallard turns a cold-weather stop into a calm portrait. The species is built for this kind of everyday resilience, dabbling, resting, and moving between patches of open water with very little wasted effort.
License: Public Domain
Brood In Formation
The family bunches together in a loose convoy, with the hen keeping the group oriented while the ducklings sort themselves into a moving cluster. This kind of constant, close-range supervision is why mallard broods can seem so orderly even in busy, open water.
License: Public Domain
Mirror Drake
Still water turns this drake into a near-symmetrical study of shape and color, with the green head and yellow bill echoed below. Scenes like this also show how effortlessly mallards hold position on calm water, making even a pause look polished.
License: Public Domain
Riverside Pair
A hen and drake rest together on the green shoreline, showing how different the sexes can look even while sharing the same quiet cover. Scenes like this are common where mallards loaf, feed, and watch the water from the safety of low bank vegetation.
License: Public Domain
Hen Portrait
This close portrait highlights the female mallard’s layered brown feathering, dark eye stripe, and softly patterned bill. Her subdued colors are part of what helps her disappear into shoreline grasses and reeds while nesting.
License: Public Domain
Upright Drake
On land, the drake’s glossy head, chestnut breast, and pale body stand out even more than they do on open water. The tall stance in this frame gives a clear look at the classic mallard field marks from bill to curled tail feathers.
License: Public Domain
Splash Break
A sudden burst of wingbeats throws spray across the surface as the birds surge forward in a quick, noisy scramble. Moments like this add some speed and commotion to a species that often looks calm and effortless from a distance.
License: Public Domain
Reflected Pair
Smooth water doubles the scene here, letting the pair’s different plumages echo back in the reflection. It is a quieter companion image to the single-bird portraits already on the page, with both birds sharing the frame naturally.
License: Public Domain
Ducklings On The Rock
A cluster of ducklings pauses on a sun-warmed rock while the brood regroups at the edge of the water. Short rest stops like this help young birds dry off, warm up, and stay bunched together before the family moves on again.
License: Public Domain
Photo License: Public Domain
All of the nature and wildlife photographs on this page were taken by me at or around Lake Koshkonong. I’ve released every image into the public domain, which means you’re free to download, copy, modify, and use them for any purpose—personal or commercial—without asking permission or providing attribution. Enjoy them, share them, and let them inspire your own projects.