Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. They belong to the same family as the swans.
Let’s find out more about ducks!
- Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae.
- Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family.
- Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon.
- Ducks do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks.
- Ducks are mostly aquatic birds.
- They may be found in both fresh water and sea water.
- Ducks can turn off half their brain while keeping the other half alert for predators.
- Ducks will usually only fully rest both halves if they are feeling safe & protected either in the middle of a large group of ducks or in a safe location.
- A baby duck is called a duckling, a male is a drake and a female is a hen or duck.
- A group of ducks is called a raft, a team or a paddling.
- Generic “bird” terms can also be used like chick, bird or flock.
- Ducks have highly waterproof feathers thanks to an intricate feather pattern and a wax like coating that they spread onto their feathers while preening.
- The waxy oil is produced in their preen gland, a small gland at the base of their tail.
- Duck feathers are so waterproof that they can dive completely underwater and the downy under-feathers will stay totally dry.
- All ducks have highly waterproof feathers. A duck’s feathers are so waterproof that even when the duck dives underwater, the downy underlayer of feathers right next to the skin will stay completely dry.
- Ducks are omnivorous and will eat grass, aquatic plants, insects, seeds, fruit, fish, crustaceans and other types of food.
- Ducklings younger than 10 days tend to swim and walk as a group, always close to their mother, to avoid the attack of predators.
- Most duck species are monogamous for a breeding season but they do not often mate for life.
- Instead, they will seek out new mates each year, choosing the healthiest, strongest, best mate who can help them pass on their genes to a new duckling generation.
- Ducks are outgoing, social animals who feel most at ease when they’re in a larger group of other ducks.
- Ducks are birds. Ducks are also called ‘waterfowl’ because they are normally found in places where there is water like ponds, streams, and rivers.
- Ducks can live up to 20 years, depending on the species and if well cared for.
- The production of eggs is affected by daylight. When there is more daylight, the ducks will lay more eggs. To prevent this from happening, farmers use artificial lighting so that the ducks have about 17 hours of light a day to produce eggs efficiently.
- The eggs will hatch within 28 days normally, except for the Muscovy duck which takes about 35 days to hatch. The mother duck will keep her brood of ducklings together to protect them from predators.
- Ducks have been domesticated as pets and farm animals for more than 500 years, and all domestic ducks are descended from either the mallard or the Muscovy duck.
- Mallards, especially, are easy to crossbreed with other types of ducks, and mallards often hybridize with all types of ducks at local ponds.
- Most bird species have a “sequential molt” where they lose their flight feathers one at a time, allowing them to always have the ability to fly.
- Most waterfowl have a “simultaneous wing molt” typically in spring or early summer, where they lose all their primary feathers at once. This means until they grow back (about 20-40 days) the bird can not fly.
- Luckily waterfowl are well adapted to flightless life by inhabiting wetlands where they can find food and shelter without the need for flying.
- The word duck comes from Old English dūce ‘diver’, a derivative of the verb *dūcan ‘to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive’, because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending.
