Duck

Ducks are common birds found in many places around the world. They belong to a group of birds called waterfowl, which also includes swans and geese. Ducks are usually smaller and have shorter necks than swans and geese. They live near water, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans, and are often seen swimming or flying.

Though ducks look similar to some other birds like loons, grebes, gallinules, and coots, they are part of their own family called Anatidae. These birds are very adaptable and can be found in many different habitats, from quiet ponds to busy coastal areas. Ducks come in many shapes and sizes, and they play important roles in nature and in human life.

For more information about ducks as food, see Duck as food. For other uses of the word "duck," see Duck (disambiguation). For information about young ducks, called ducklings, see Duckling (disambiguation).

Etymology

The word duck comes from Old English dūce, meaning 'diver'. This comes from a verb that means 'to duck or dive', because many ducks feed by dipping their heads underwater. Similar words exist in other languages, like Dutch duiken and German tauchen, which also mean 'to dive'.

The older Old English word for duck was ened, but it was replaced to avoid confusion with other words. Many languages still have related words for duck, such as Dutch eend, German Ente, and Norwegian and.

A young duck is called a duckling. A male duck is called a drake, and a female duck is called a duck or, in science, a hen.

Taxonomy

All ducks are part of a group called Anseriformes, which includes ducks, geese, swans, screamers, and the magpie goose. Most ducks belong to the biological family Anatidae. Scientists sometimes disagree on how to sort ducks into smaller groups because ducks often mix with each other in the wild.

The group most called "true ducks" is called Anatinae. Some true ducks, like those that often feed at the water's surface, are called "dabbling" or "river" ducks. Others that dive for food are called "diving ducks." There are also "sea ducks" that mostly live in saltwater and eat fish and shellfish. Some ducks, like whistling ducks, freckled duck, shelducks, steamer ducks, perching ducks, torrent duck, and pink-eared duck, are not always considered "true ducks" and are sorted in different ways by scientists.

Morphology

Ducks have a stretched-out and wide body shape, and their necks are longer than swans and geese but not quite as long. Diving ducks have a more rounded body shape than others. Their bills are usually wide and have special edges that help them catch food, especially for those that eat by filtering water.

Ducks have strong, scaled legs placed far back on their bodies, which helps them swim well. Their wings are powerful but short and pointed, allowing them to fly with quick, steady beats. Some ducks, like the steamer duck, can barely fly. Many ducks lose the ability to fly temporarily while their feathers are replaced, called moulting, and they find safe places with plenty of food during this time. This usually happens before they migrate to new areas.

Male ducks in northern areas often have very showy feathers, but they change to look more like females in the summer. In southern areas, differences between males and females are usually smaller, except in some species like the paradise shelduck in New Zealand, where females even have brighter feathers than males. Young ducks typically look more like female ducks.

Distribution and habitat

See also: List of Anseriformes by population

Ducks can be found all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica. Some species live on islands near Antarctica, like South Georgia and the Auckland Islands. Ducks have also reached faraway islands such as the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia, and the Galápagos Islands. On these islands, ducks are often just visitors and not permanent residents. A few duck species only live on these distant islands.

Some duck species that live in colder parts of the world, like the Northern Hemisphere, travel long distances to find new places to live when seasons change. Ducks in warmer areas, such as the tropics, usually stay in one place. In places like Australia, where rain can be unpredictable, some ducks move around looking for temporary lakes and pools that form after heavy rain.

Behaviour

Ducks eat many types of food such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Some ducks, called dabbling ducks, feed on the surface of water or on land. They have a special comb-like structure on their bill that helps trap food. Other ducks, called diving ducks, swim underwater to find food. Some ducks, like mergansers, are good at catching large fish.

Ducks usually have one partner at a time, and most breed once a year during spring or summer. They build nests before breeding and care for their young, leading ducklings to water after hatching. Female mallard ducks and some others make a classic "quack" sound, while males make a similar but raspier sound. Ducks make many different calls, including whistles and grunts.

Ducks face many predators. Ducklings are especially vulnerable because they cannot fly yet. They can be caught by birds, large fish, and other aquatic hunters. Adult ducks are good fliers but can still be caught by large fish, humans, or peregrine falcons.

Relationship with humans

Hunting

Main article: Waterfowl hunting

People have hunted ducks for a very long time, even from ancient times. Digs in places like California show that people were catching ducks thousands of years ago. In many parts of the world, such as the Caribbean, Scandinavia, and China, ducks were an important food source for early hunters. Some special kinds of ducks, like the flightless Finsch's duck in New Zealand, were hunted by local people until they disappeared.

Today, many people still hunt wild ducks for food or fun. They might shoot them or trap them using special tools called duck decoys. However, sometimes these ducks can have harmful substances from pollution.

Domestication

Main article: Domestic duck

Ducks are also raised on farms for their meat, eggs, and feathers. Almost all domestic ducks come from a wild duck called the mallard, except for the Muscovy duck. There are many different kinds of domestic ducks, including a very small one called the Call duck. This tiny duck was originally used by hunters to lure wild ducks into traps.

Heraldry

Ducks can be found on the coats of arms of some places, like Lubāna in Latvia and Föglö in Åland.

Cultural references

Ducks often appear in jokes and stories because many people find them funny. Famous cartoon ducks include Walt Disney's Donald Duck and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. The 1992 Disney movie The Mighty Ducks, helped make the duck a symbol for a strong sports team, leading to names like the Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League.