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Table of Contents
See the fact file below for more information on Ducks or alternatively, you can download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Duck Facts
- Ducks are birds that belong to the Anatidae family.
- This family includes geese and swans.
- The duck family is divided into subfamilies known as tribes.
- Tribes include:
- River ducks, named for their feeding method, which is mostly at the surface of the water. They do not completely submerge to get their food.
- Diving ducks, named as they dive below the surface to forage for their food. Diving ducks have wide flat beaks, are heavier than other ducks, and have difficulty taking off to fly.
- Sea ducks, which spend most of their lives in saltwater, foraging deep underwater for food, and mostly eat fish.Β Β
- Ducks’ main habitat is areas of water like ponds, lakes, marshes, rivers, and even oceans.
- Ducks’ diet includes aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and mollusks.
- Ducks are also called “waterfowls”.
- Ducks are found all over the world except in Antarctica, where it is too cold for them.
- Some species of ducks migrate long distances every year to breed.Β
- Some are nomadic.Β
Distinguishing Features
- Ducks have stout bodies and shorter necks and wings than other waterfowl.
- Ducks of different species look different.
- Some ducks are very colorful, like the Perching ducks.Β
- The drakes (males) are usually brightly colored.
- The females are usually duller and brown in color so that they can hide and camouflage from predators when in their nest with eggs.
- Ducks have webbed feet that are designed for swimming.Β
- Their webbed feet act like paddles when in water.
- Because of their webbed feet, they waddle instead of walk.Β
- Duck’s feet cannot feel cold even in icy cold water because their feet have no nerves or blood vessels.
- Ducks have water-proof feathers.Β
- A special gland that produces oil is located near the duck’s tail. This oil spreads and covers the outer coat of the duck’s feathers, making it water-proof.Β
- Beneath the water-proof feathers are fluffy, soft feathers that keep the duck warm.
- Ducks keep their feathers clean by preening.Β
- Most ducks quack; however, the wood duck squeals.Β
- The duck’s mouth is called a “bill”.Β
- Bills come in different shapes and sizes.Β
- The shape of the bill and body features will determine how the duck hunts for its food.
- Ducks have strong, well-developed, scaled legs and strong wing muscles.
- Some species of duck are temporarily flightless while molting. During this period, they are in a habitat with good food supplies.
Reproduction and Care
- A male duck is called a drake.
- A female is called a duck or a hen.
- A baby duck is called a duckling.
- Most duck species breed once a year.
- Many smaller species usually have one partner each year.
- Other species have pair bonds that last several years.
- Ducks usually make a nest before breeding, which is normally in spring/summer.
- Ducks lay one egg per day, and a set of eggs is called a clutch.
- Clutch sizes range from three to 12 eggs.
- Eggs are incubated by the mother for 28 days.
- The eggs hatch together over about 24 hours.
- The ducklings remain in the nest for a short while, only about a day, to dry and begin using their legs.
- Mum then leads them to water.Β
- Mother ducks are both caring and protective of their young,Β
- However, ducklings may be abandoned if not healthy or if the eggs hatch after the mother has already left the nest with some young.
- Ducklings are able to fly within 5-8 weeks.
- Ducks can live from 2-to 12 years, depending on the species.
Predators
- Ducks have many predators.Β
- Their eggs are a choice of food for many animals and also humans.Β
- Ducklings are vulnerable to predatory birds like the fish-eating heron, also crocodiles, and large fish.
- Ducks’ nests are raided by large birds like hawks and by land-based predators such as foxes.
- Adult ducks are the prey of many species, including snakes, raccoons, large fish, large birds, and humans.
Duck Produce
Ducks are farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers.
Eggs
- Duck eggs taste similar to chicken eggs.
- Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs by up to 100%.
- The flavor of duck eggs is said to be richer and creamier than chicken eggs.
- Ducks will lay more eggs when the days are longer, and there is more daylight.
- Ducks take days or even weeks between laying eggs which makes them less viable to farm.
Duck Meat
- Duck meat is eaten all over the world.
- It is particularly popular in China, where they even eat the feet.Β
- Duck meat is a rich source of proteinΒ
- Duck meat is also richer in vitamins than chicken meat.Β
- Duck meat contains vitamin D, which is absent in chicken meat.
- It costs more to raise ducks than chickens; therefore, it is more expensive to the consumer.
Duck Feathers
- Ducks have three types of feathers, namely contour, flight, and down.
- These each have different uses on the duck body.
- The stiff feathers on the wing and tail are called quills.
- In the “olden day”, these were used to make pens.
- More recently, they are used in the production of fishing flies, like trout dry flies and salmon wet flies.
- Down feathers are soft and lie close to the skin.
- They are used for filling pillows, cushions, and bedding.
- They are also used in clothing as they offer insulation in jackets, etc.
- Duck feathers, along with other bird feathers, are also used in a number of decorative products such as boas, fans, earrings, and even flowers.Β
Did you know?
- Ducks should not be fed bread because it damages their health, also uneaten bread pollutes waterways.
- One special breed of duck, the Indian Runner, stands erect like a penguin and runs as opposed to a normal duck waddle. Females can lay up to 350 eggs a year, and as they are easy to handle, they are sometimes kept as pets as well as egg layers. In the garden, they eat insects and slugs and provide a natural fertilizer.
Duck Worksheets
This comprehensive guide to your study of Ducks is an incredible addition to any science class. It is packed with over 19 pages of facts, information, and trivia focusing on the characteristics of Ducks and key features of this wonderful Animal. This is an excellent addition to your studies and will help you understand everything you need to about Ducks and the different types of Duck species. Download today!
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This download includes the following worksheets:
- Duck Facts
- Truth or Bluff
- Duck Anatomy
- Anatidae – Compare and Contrast
- Common Ducks – Match to Define
- Name the Species
- The Fairest of them All
- Duck Watch – Vulnerable or Critical
- Our Local Ducks
- The Tortoise and the Duck
- Ducky Math
- Duck Acronym
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ducks see underwater?
Ducks have a membrane over the eye, which protects it, and they can see very well underwater.
Do ducks like to live together?
Ducks are social animals that get along very well with each other, and they live in groups called teams or rafts.
What do ducks eat?
Depending on the species, ducks eat a variety of food from nuts, seeds, fruit, insects, water plants, and small fish.
What is an interesting fact about ducks?
Ducks can close one eye and put half their brain to sleep. Isn’t that clever?
Do ducks have teeth?
Ducks, like all birds, have no teeth, so there are no dentist visits for them.
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Link will appear as Duck Facts and Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 21, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.