Ducks are water birds that quack, waddle and paddle around ponds and lakes. They have waterproof feathers and webbed feet that make them great swimmers. Let's paddle into some fun duck facts!
🦆 Duck quick facts
- Animal type
- Bird
- Home
- Ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes and coasts on every continent except Antarctica
- Food
- Water plants, seeds, insects, snails and small fish
- Size
- From about 12 inches to over 2 feet (30 to 70 cm) long
- Life span
- About 5 to 10 years in the wild
25 Duck Facts for Kids
- There are more than 100 kinds of ducks.
- Ducks live on every continent except Antarctica.
- A male duck is called a drake, and a female duck is called a hen.
- Baby ducks are called ducklings.
- Ducklings can swim soon after they hatch.
- Ducklings follow the first moving thing they see, usually their mother. This is called imprinting.
- Ducks have webbed feet that work like paddles.
- Ducks have special oil glands near their tails to make their feathers waterproof.
- Water rolls right off a duck's back, which is where the saying comes from!
- Ducks' feet don't feel very cold because of special blood vessels that keep heat in.
- Not all ducks quack. Many ducks whistle, coo, grunt or squeak.
- Usually it's female mallards that make the loud 'quack' sound.
- Dabbling ducks, like mallards, tip their bottoms up to eat plants under the water.
- Diving ducks swim all the way underwater to find food.
- Ducks eat water plants, seeds, insects, snails, worms and small fish.
- Bread isn't good for ducks. Peas, corn and oats are healthier treats.
- Male mallards have shiny green heads, while females are speckled brown.
- The wood duck is one of the most colorful ducks in North America.
- Wood duck ducklings jump out of tree nests, sometimes from high up, to reach the water!
- Many ducks fly south in a V shape when the weather gets cold.
- Ducks can sleep with one eye open to watch for danger.
- Ducks have three eyelids.
- Mother ducks line their nests with soft feathers from their own chests.
- A group of ducks on the water is sometimes called a raft or a paddling.
- Nursery rhymes love ducks, like the Five Little Ducks who went swimming one day!
Questions kids ask about ducks
What is a baby duck called?
A baby duck is called a duckling. A male duck is a drake and a female duck is a hen.
Do all ducks quack?
No! Many ducks whistle, coo or grunt. The classic loud quack usually comes from female mallards.
What do ducks eat?
Ducks eat water plants, seeds, grass, insects, snails, worms and small fish. Bread isn't healthy for them.
Why don't ducks get wet?
Ducks spread oil from a gland near their tail over their feathers, which makes them waterproof.
🎵 Sing Five Little Ducks🦁 Play the Animal Quiz
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