Did You Know?
Ducks can swim in the water even when the weather is freezing. They have no nerves or blood vessels in their feet. Hence, they never feel hot or cold.
Ducks belong to the Anatidae family of birds. Swans and geese also belong to the same family but are not considered as ducks. Ducks are small or medium-sized water birds, also called waterfowls. They feed on plants, insects, and small fish in the water or around water bodies. They are very adaptable, which shows in their presence in every continent, except Antarctica.
Their body has many features that make them adaptable. Their bill has water filtering features that drain the unnecessary water without their food falling down. Their webbed feet help them in paddling or swimming in water. They are preys to many predators like big birds, crocodiles, snakes, foxes, etc.
DABBLING DUCKS
Dabbling ducks belong to the Anatinae subfamily. These ducks have a distinct feature wherein their legs are positioned in the middle of their underside. Hence, these ducks can balance themselves properly when they are upside-down in the water. They go upside-down, instead of diving, to eat insects or weeds. The position of their legs also help them to walk on land. They have long, tapered wings that make it easy for them to fly just by jumping out of the water and flapping their wings. These birds are mostly seen in shallow waters and float high on the surface of water.
Scientific name: Anas americana
Region: Southwest America and North America
Appearance:
Female: Chestnut breast, grayish brown body, gray-colored head, and a small, black-tipped gray bill.
Male: Pinkish-brown back and breast with a green patch from the eyes to nape and a small, black-tipped white bill.
Region: Southwest America and North America
Appearance:
Female: Chestnut breast, grayish brown body, gray-colored head, and a small, black-tipped gray bill.
Male: Pinkish-brown back and breast with a green patch from the eyes to nape and a small, black-tipped white bill.
Scientific name: Anas penelope
Region: Africa, Asia, Europe, and rare in North America
Appearance:
Female: Brown body and a small-tipped light bill.
Male: The non-breeding male looks like the female. But the breeding male has white belly, gray back, and chestnut head with a small, black-tipped light bill.
Region: Africa, Asia, Europe, and rare in North America
Appearance:
Female: Brown body and a small-tipped light bill.
Male: The non-breeding male looks like the female. But the breeding male has white belly, gray back, and chestnut head with a small, black-tipped light bill.
Scientific name: Anas clypeata
Region: Asia, Europe, North America and rare in Australia
Appearance:
Female: Body is mottled brown with a long orange bill tinged with gray.
Male: Breeding male has greenish-black head, chestnut belly, white breast, yellow eyes and a black bill. Non-breeding male looks like female but is slightly dark.
Region: Asia, Europe, North America and rare in Australia
Appearance:
Female: Body is mottled brown with a long orange bill tinged with gray.
Male: Breeding male has greenish-black head, chestnut belly, white breast, yellow eyes and a black bill. Non-breeding male looks like female but is slightly dark.
Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos
Region: Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and America
Appearance:
Female: Mottled brown and black eye-line.
Male: The breeding male has a green head, white collar, gray wings, brown breast and yellowish-orange bill tipped black. The non-breeding ones resemble the female.
Region: Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and America
Appearance:
Female: Mottled brown and black eye-line.
Male: The breeding male has a green head, white collar, gray wings, brown breast and yellowish-orange bill tipped black. The non-breeding ones resemble the female.
PERCHING DUCKS
Perching ducks belong to the subfamily Cairininae or Cairinini. These ducks are given the name due to their quality of perching on trees. They have qualities of both a shelduck and a dabbling duck. They are often found in inland water sources. They have long claws on their toes.
Scientific name: Aix sponsa
Region: Caribbean and North America
Appearance:
Female: Yellow and white eye-ring, a stripe running back from the eye and a gray body.
Male: Breeding male is chestnut and green with white stripes. Non-breeding male resembles the female but without the white eye-ring.
Region: Caribbean and North America
Appearance:
Female: Yellow and white eye-ring, a stripe running back from the eye and a gray body.
Male: Breeding male is chestnut and green with white stripes. Non-breeding male resembles the female but without the white eye-ring.
DIVING DUCKS
Diving ducks belong to the subfamily Aythyinae. These ducks dive in the water completely to get food. These feed on snails and other insects. Their body is designed in a different way. They have legs located near the rear side, which help them swim underwater. They also have smaller wings that reduces their weight while under the water. They have a different technique to fly. They can’t fly by jumping off the water. They have to walk or hop on water until they can finally fly. Also, diving ducks are mostly found in deep waters where it is seen that the ducks often float low where only their neck and little bit of their back is seen.
Scientific name: Aythya collaris
Region: North America and rare in South America and Europe.
Appearance:
Female: Brown body with gray-brown head, white ring near the tip of the bill and a white ring around the eyes.
Male: Shiny black body with gray sides and white ring near the tip of the bill.
Region: North America and rare in South America and Europe.
Appearance:
Female: Brown body with gray-brown head, white ring near the tip of the bill and a white ring around the eyes.
Male: Shiny black body with gray sides and white ring near the tip of the bill.
SEA DUCKS
Sea ducks belong to the Merginae subfamily. As the name suggests, these are found in marine waters, but they are said to be diving ducks because of their diving quality. Some sea ducks can tolerate seawater because they have developed salt glands.
Scientific name: Bucephala islandica
Region: Iceland and northern part of North America
Appearance:
Female: Brown head, gray back and tail, light gray breasts, yellow bill, and yellowish eyes.
Male: Black back, white underparts, white spots on cheek and back, golden eyes and a black bill.
Region: Iceland and northern part of North America
Appearance:
Female: Brown head, gray back and tail, light gray breasts, yellow bill, and yellowish eyes.
Male: Black back, white underparts, white spots on cheek and back, golden eyes and a black bill.
Scientific name: Clangula hyemalis
Region: Asia, Europe and north coasts of North America.
Appearance:
Female: Winter females have white head and neck with a dark crown. Summer females have brown upper parts and light wings.
Male: Winter males have a white head and neck with a dark cheek patch. Summer males have a dark neck, wings and breasts, dark head with white face, and a dark gray bill with a pink band.
Region: Asia, Europe and north coasts of North America.
Appearance:
Female: Winter females have white head and neck with a dark crown. Summer females have brown upper parts and light wings.
Male: Winter males have a white head and neck with a dark cheek patch. Summer males have a dark neck, wings and breasts, dark head with white face, and a dark gray bill with a pink band.