# Duck (*Anas platyrhynchos*) Ducks are water-loving birds with webbed feet that help them swim. They have colorful feathers and quack loudly. Ducks can fly in the sky and swim gracefully in ponds and lakes. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1,498 - **Habitat:** Ponds and Lakes - **Also known as:** Mallard, Wild Duck ![Duck](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424556/objects/6056.jpg) ## Appearance The Duck (specifically the Mallard) has striking visual differences between sexes: males boast an iridescent green head and white neck ring, contrasting with a grey body. Females are mottled brown for camouflage. Both have bright orange legs and feet. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Anas ## Interesting facts - Ducks don't have teeth but use ridges inside their bills to grip food before swallowing it whole! - Ducks have excellent vision, seeing almost 360 degrees around them without turning their head! - The loud 'Quack!' sound we often hear is usually made by female ducks; males make a softer, raspy sound! - When flying in a 'V' formation, ducks help each other save energy on their long migratory journeys! ## Special abilities - **Built-in Strainer:** Duck has special comb-like structures called lamellae in its bill that help them filter tiny plants and animals from the water. - **Underwater Goggles:** Duck has a clear third eyelid, called a nictitating membrane, that protects their eyes while they are swimming underwater. - **Rapid Lift-Off:** Duck can leap almost vertically into flight from water or land, using powerful leg muscles to quickly escape danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-65 cm - **Wingspan:** 81-98 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 88 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 8-13 - **Incubation:** 27-28 days - **Migration Distance:** 800 km ## Diet & Feeding Ducks are omnivores, eating a mix of plants, insects, and small aquatic animals they find in water. - **Age differences:** Ducklings initially eat mostly protein-rich insects for growth, shifting to more plant matter as they mature. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic plants, seeds, insects, snails, small fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes prey on ducks and their eggs. - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Eagles are aerial predators of adult ducks. - **Depends on:** [Green-winged Teal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-winged-teal) (*Anas crecca*) — Share similar wetland habitats and food sources. - **Eats:** Floating Pondweed (*Potamogeton natans*) — Ducks consume the leaves and seeds of this plant. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching ducks from a safe distance and never disturb their nests or habitats. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Duck? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Duck? 50-65 cm ### What is Duck's wingspan? 81-98 cm ### How much does Duck weigh? 0.7-1.6 kg ### How long does Duck live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Duck move? 88 km/h ### What does Duck eat? Ducks are omnivores, eating a mix of plants, insects, and small aquatic animals they find in water. ### Where is Duck usually found? Ponds and Lakes ## Where to spot - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Duck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/duck) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Duck: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/duck)