Mallard female, Bernard Spragg Photo

Dirty Bill: Female mallards' bills are a dirty orange color, but the amount of gray coloration on the bill can vary widely. They have the same spatulate shape as male mallards' bills... Eye Stripe: All female mallards have a dark eye line that extends from the lores nearly to the back of the head. This stripe is typically the same color as the bird's crown, though the stripe's thickness and sharpness can vary between individuals... Mottled Upperparts: Mallard hens have heavily mottled upperparts in shades of brown, buff and black... Mottled Underparts: Mallard hens' underparts are also mottled in brown, buff and black, but with finer markings than the upperparts, which gives the underparts a generally paler appearance... Mottled Undertail Coverts: The undertail coverts of a female mallard are finely mottled or spotted like the rest of the underparts, and the mottling extends to the edges of the tail as well... Orange Legs and Feet: Like drakes, female mallards have bright orange legs and feet, and the feet are strongly webbed.