Ducks make a wonderful addition to any pond or lake. They are cute, friendly, and very curious birds.
They are mostly aquatic birds, and you will find them living in seawater and freshwater.
They have a very distinctive waddling walk because their legs are placed rearward rather than forward. Many duck species are relatively small, short-necked, and large-billed.
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Duck Facts for Kids
- A male duck is called a drake
- A female duck is called a hen
- A baby duck is called a duckling
- Ducks have waterproof feathers
- They like to eat weeds, insects, worms, and water snails
- Their average life span is 10 years or less
Types of Ducks
Mallard Ducks
These are one of the larger ducks Length: 19 – 25 in and Weight: 35 -45 oz
The males have a brightly colored green head, yellow bill, blue speculum, black rump, and have a white ring around their neck.
The females are brown, whitish tail sides, with a blue speculum, and dark stripe across the eye.
They are dabbling ducks
Dabbling ducks tip forward to feed on underwater plants. It is rare for them to dive.
They are commonly found in city ponds and are very tame and friendly.
Canvasback Duck
The canvasback is a species of ducks, found in North America.
One of the largest diving ducks of its genus, this duck is wary in flight and swift.
It inhabits marshes in summer and saltwater bays in winter. It eats mostly the roots of plants growing underwater.
Diving for food, usually in shallow water. When feeding in shallow water, it may stir up sediments with its feet, to help find the good food at the bottom.
They eat mollusks, insects, some small fish and are particularly fond of leaves, grasses, roots, and seeds of aquatic plants.
Marbled Duck
The Marbled Teal is a medium-sized duck. A creamy-white bird with brown spots.
It has brown wings with pale edges, and its tail is light brown.
The female is shorter and has a paler eye stripe. The male is more or less similar to the female in appearance.
It can dive quite well, but it usually only dives when it is trying to escape predators.
Hunters and egg collectors target marbled teal when on their breeding grounds.
However, they are most threatened by habitat loss. Due to agricultural development in the last century, they have lost tremendous amounts of habitat.
Population declines are also caused by pollution, and lead poisoning.
White-faced whistling duck
A striking duck with brightly colored wings and back. You can find them in lakes and marshes.
In fact, it looks like a goose with its long neck and legs.
You’ll find them in South and North America and parts of Africa.
This species is named for its high-pitched whistling call. These ducks freeze when alarmed. It eats grass, seeds, and aquatic mollusks.
Breeding starts in the rainy season. A nest is made of leaves in the marsh and in hollow trees. You’ll find 6 to 12 eggs in nests that are incubated for 28 to 30 days by both partners. The parents usually hide the ducklings deep in the aquatic vegetation.
Do all ducks “quack”?
Not all ducks quack. Male ducks are usually silent. They simply squeak, grunt, groan, chirp, whistle, bray, and growl.
Females are more vocal than males and can make a wide range of distinct sounds.
Ducks talk to each other using their quacks.
Where do ducks live?
Ducks can be found in most countries around the world.
They particularly like Wetland, marsh, and ponds, which is an extensive range of habitats.
They also inhabit rivers, lakes, and oceans.
What do ducks eat?
Ducks are omnivores. They really like to eat water plants, fruit, nuts, insects, snails, and small fish when the opportunity arises.
Many people will feed them bread if they’re in a local pond in the park.
What do you call a group of ducks?
This is a superb question because there are many different names that people use.
- Team of ducks
- Flush of ducks
- Flight of ducks
- Paddling of ducks
- Raft of ducks
- Flock of ducks
How long do ducks live?
Ducks live 2 – 20 years. Wild ducks live longer than domestic ducks.
What season do ducks have babies?
Typically, ducks lay 12 eggs per clutch during the egg-laying season (March-July).
After laying one to two eggs a day, the female takes care of incubating the eggs, which can take 28 to 30 days.
Why are baby ducks yellow?
Only solid white adult ducks can hatch yellow ducklings. There is a genetic component to the coloring of a hatchling’s down when it hatches. Feathers in ducklings are known as down.
Fun facts about Ducks
Many ducks in the temperate and northern hemispheres migrate in the breeding season and fly south to lay their eggs.
There are no ducks in Antarctica.
Even when a duck dives deep underwater, its downy underlayer right against its skin stays dry.
Female ducks will line their nests with soft down feathers they pluck from their breasts.
More than 500 years ago, ducks were domesticated as pets and farm animals.
