Ima Student 1
Birds of a Feather Flock Together: The Duck Family
Ima Student
Biology 101
Ima Student 2
Contents
Birds of a Feather Flock Together – The Duck Family..................................................................... 3
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3
Anatidae Family .......................................................................................................................... 3
Dabbling Ducks............................................................................................................................ 4
Diving Ducks ................................................................................................................................ 4
Sea Ducks .................................................................................................................................... 5
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 5
Works Cited ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Ima Student 3
Birds of a Feather Flock Together – The Duck Family
Introduction
This report will give a brief overview of the duck family, known scientifically as the
Anatidae family. First, I will list a few characteristics of the Anatidae family and then give a
short description of three members of that family: dabbling ducks, diving ducks and sea ducks.
Anatidae Family
Ducks are a diverse group of waterfowl in the Anatidae family of birds, popular for both
their beauty and their songs.
The swans, geese and duck species that constitute the duck family have small stout
bodies, webbed feet and short bills. Their habitats include mostly lakes, slow-moving rivers, and
marshlands. Males are usually more colorful than the females. The females are more
camouflaged in color to keep them hidden while hatching the eggs in their nests.
The most common types of ducks found in the United States are the dabbling and diving ducks,
named according to their feeding techniques. Another large group, the sea ducks, divide their
time between Canada and northern United States.
Ima Student 4
Dabbling Ducks
Dabbling Ducks wade or swim in shallow water, using their bills to skim for food. Their
diet consists of plants, mollusks and insects. They are a popular site at most local lakes and
ponds where visitors enjoy feeding them pieces of bread or seed.
When they feed, they commonly dunk their heads under water with their tails pointing straight
up in the air!
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) lists ten species of dabbling ducks in their
report on North American Ducks. Since the 1990s all the population for most duck species have
either stabled or increased in number (Bellrose, 123).
Diving Ducks
They are named for their special technique of diving under water to find the plants and
animals that make up their diet. They are commonly found in lakes and wetlands.
Because of their need to seek food under water, diving ducks have special adaptive feet and
legs. Compared to other types of ducks, their legs and feet are situated further back on their
body.
This gives them the ability to dive fully into the water and easily propel themselves
around their underwater world. The drawback is that they find it awkward to walk on land, and
therefore, are rarely seen on dry land. Another problem is that the position of their legs and
feet make it difficult for them to take off from the water when they need to fly. They must use
their large webbed feet to get a running start on top of the water in order to finally take flight.
Ima Student 5
Sea Ducks
Sea ducks are migratory birds and seasonally move between the northern United States
and Canada. They can be found in both salt and fresh water habitats.
They feed on both the surface and underneath the water, preferring fish, mollusks, insects and
other animal matter.
Sea ducks use their famous V-formation to fly south for the winter and north for the
summer. They can be seen flying at high altitudes and their characteristic honking call can be
heard for miles. A careful observer might get to witness the classic move of the lead duck
falling back to the end of the line to rest while the next duck in line takes the lead.
Conclusion
During my brief study on ducks I have learned several interesting facts. I learned that
there are many more types of ducks than I had imagined and that each type has unique and
interesting characteristics. Also, I always assumed that all ducks could take flight easily from
water, but now I know that taking off is quite a challenge for the diving ducks. Finally, studying
ducks has made me even more curious to learn more about them. I look forward to observing
them in nature.
Ima Student 6
Works Cited
Bellrose, Frank C. (1980). Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America, Wildlife Management
Institute. Thistown, NY: Stackpole Books.
Korkright, F. H. (1967). Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America. Thistown, NY: Stackpole
Books.
Madge, Steven (1992). Waterfowl, An Identification Guide to the Ducks, Geese and Swans of
the World. Houghton Mifflin.
United States Geological Survey (2003). Report on North American Ducks. Retrieved on January
14, 2009 from http://www.usgeologicalstudies/anatidae/2000.html