Wildlife Guide · Europe & Asia

Duck

Family Anatidae (e.g. Anas platyrhynchos)

Waterbirds of pond, marsh and coast — and the wild ancestors of the farmyard duck.

Varies; common species Least Concern

A male mallard duck with a glossy green head, white neck-ring and chestnut breast swimming on calm water, with a brown female mallard close behind.

Image: Source: Global Animal Guide (WARN) — verify license before production

In brief

A duck is a waterbird in the family Anatidae — smaller and shorter-necked than its relatives the geese and swans. Ducks have a broad flat bill, webbed feet and waterproof feathers, live on fresh and salt water worldwide, and feed by dabbling at the surface or diving underwater.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated June 2026

A duck is a waterbird in the family Anatidae, the same family as geese and swans, but smaller and shorter-necked. "Duck" is not a single scientific group: it covers many species across several subfamilies, united by a broad flat bill, webbed feet and dense waterproof plumage. The most familiar is the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), a dabbling duck found across the Northern Hemisphere and the ancestor of almost all domestic ducks. Ducks live on fresh and salt water on every continent except Antarctica, feeding by dabbling at the surface or diving below it. Most common species are widespread and classed as Least Concern, though some specialised ducks are threatened by habitat loss.

17M+

Mature mallards estimated worldwide (IUCN)

50–65cm

Typical mallard body length

Continents ducks inhabit (all but Antarctica)

Least Concern

IUCN status of the mallard and many common ducks

Figures sourced from Wikipedia — Duck, Wikipedia — Mallard, IUCN Red List — Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and other references on this page.

Duck: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Duck
Common name	Duck
Group	Many species in family Anatidae
Most familiar species	Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Diet	Omnivore — seeds, plants, insects, molluscs, fish
Feeding styles	Dabbling (surface) and diving (underwater)
Mallard length	50–65 cm (20–26 in)
Mallard weight	0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb)
Distribution	Worldwide except Antarctica
Names	Drake (male), duck/hen (female), duckling (young)
IUCN status	Varies; mallard and many common ducks Least Concern

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Duck
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes
Family	Anatidae
Example genus	Anas
Example species	Anas platyrhynchos (mallard)

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Varies by species. "Duck" covers many species in the family Anatidae, ranging from Least Concern to Critically Endangered. The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), the most familiar duck, is assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern. Other widespread ducks are similarly secure, while ducks restricted to small islands or specialised wetlands can be threatened or extinct, chiefly through habitat loss, introduced predators, hunting and hybridisation.
Population: Mallard: more than 17 million mature individuals (IUCN). Other species range from abundant to fewer than a thousand birds.
Trend: Varies; the mallard population is currently noted as decreasing despite remaining abundant.
Assessed: Mallard assessed Least Concern; latest IUCN Red List assessment 2024
CITES: Not all ducks are CITES-listed; some rarer species and their relatives appear on CITES appendices.

Because ducks depend almost entirely on wetlands, the draining, pollution and degradation of marshes, lakes, rivers and estuaries is the dominant pressure on the group worldwide.

Key Facts: Duck

Ducks belong to the family Anatidae, alongside geese and swans, but are generally smaller and shorter-necked.
The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most familiar species and the ancestor of almost all domestic duck breeds.
Dabbling ducks feed at the surface or by upending; diving ducks submerge fully and are usually heavier.
Waterproof feathers, kept oiled by preening and an insulating layer of down, let ducks stay warm and dry on water.
A male is a drake, a female a duck or hen, and the young are ducklings; many drakes moult into dull 'eclipse' plumage in summer.
Most common ducks are classed as Least Concern, but some specialised species face pressure from habitat loss.

What is a duck, and how does it differ from geese and swans?

A duck is a waterbird in the family Anatidae, which also contains geese and swans. There is no single "duck" group in scientific classification — the name is applied to many species spread across several subfamilies, and taxonomists still disagree on exactly how to divide them. What unites ducks is a familiar body plan: a broad, flattened bill, short legs set well back on the body, fully webbed front toes and dense, waterproof plumage. Compared with their relatives, ducks are generally smaller and noticeably shorter in the neck than the long-necked swans and geese. They also tend to have brighter, more patterned plumage, especially the males of Northern Hemisphere species. Ducks have a near-worldwide distribution, living on lakes, rivers, marshes, estuaries and coasts on every continent except Antarctica. Some, like the mallard, are at home almost anywhere there is water, including city parks; others are restricted to particular habitats such as fast rivers, sea coasts or tropical wetlands. This mix of a shared, recognisable form and great variety between species is exactly why "duck" is an everyday word rather than a precise scientific one.

How do ducks feed — dabbling versus diving?

Ducks are usually split into two broad feeding groups. Dabbling ducks, such as the mallard, teal and wigeon, feed at or just below the surface. They skim food from the water, graze on land, or "upend" — tipping forward so the head and neck are underwater and the tail points to the sky — to reach plants and small animals just beneath the surface. Many strain water through comb-like ridges along the edge of the bill, called the pecten or lamellae, trapping seeds, insects and tiny aquatic creatures. Dabbling ducks can usually spring almost straight up off the water into flight. Diving ducks, including pochards, scaup and eiders, submerge completely and swim underwater to feed on plants, molluscs, crustaceans and fish. They are typically heavier and have legs set further back, which makes them powerful swimmers but means they often need a running take-off across the water before becoming airborne. Diet varies widely between species and seasons: many ducks eat more plant matter outside the breeding season and take more protein-rich invertebrates when laying eggs and raising young.

Why are ducks so well adapted to life on water?

A duck's body is built for water. Its feathers are waterproof, kept that way by frequent preening: the duck draws its bill over its plumage, spreading oils and locking the feather barbs together so water runs off rather than soaking in. Beneath the outer feathers lies a thick layer of soft down that traps air and insulates against cold water — the same down long valued for filling quilts. Webbed feet act as paddles, and because the legs have little blood flow near the skin and a heat-exchange system in the circulation, ducks can stand on ice or swim in cold water without losing much body heat. Many ducks show strong differences between the sexes: in numerous Northern species the drake wears bright breeding colours while the female is mottled brown for camouflage on the nest. After breeding, drakes often moult into a dull "eclipse" plumage that resembles the female, and during this moult they briefly lose the power of flight while new wing feathers grow. A male is called a drake, a female a duck or hen, and the downy young are ducklings.

Are ducks endangered?

For ducks as a whole, the honest answer is: it depends on the species. "Duck" covers dozens of species, and their conservation status ranges from extremely abundant to critically threatened. Many of the most familiar ducks are doing well. The mallard, for example, is assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern, with a population estimated at more than 17 million mature individuals across an enormous range — although even its numbers are noted as currently decreasing. Other widespread, adaptable species are similarly secure. At the other end of the scale, ducks restricted to small islands, single lakes or specialised wetlands can be highly vulnerable. Several species have become endangered or extinct because of habitat loss, drainage of wetlands, introduced predators, hunting pressure and hybridisation with introduced ducks. Because ducks depend so completely on wetlands, the draining and pollution of marshes, lakes and estuaries is the single biggest pressure on the group. Protecting and restoring healthy wetlands benefits not only the rarer ducks but the whole community of waterbirds, fish, amphibians and insects that share their world.

Dabbling ducks vs diving ducks

Feature	Dabbling ducks	Diving ducks
Examples	Mallard, teal, wigeon	Pochard, scaup, eider
How they feed	At the surface or by upending	Submerge fully and swim underwater
Typical food	Seeds, plants, surface insects	Molluscs, crustaceans, fish, water plants
Build	Lighter, legs more central	Heavier, legs set further back
Take-off	Spring almost straight off the water	Often need a running start across the water

Duck Breeds Guide

From the Pekin and Khaki Campbell to the Muscovy, Indian Runner, Cayuga and eight more — explore 12 of the world's most searched duck breeds with temperament, egg production, common health issues and responsible care guidance.

Pekin

China

Calm, friendly, vocal

Khaki Campbell

England

Active, independent, foraging

Muscovy

Central and South America

Quiet, calm, territorial

Indian Runner

Indonesia (via Europe)

Active, upright, foraging

Cayuga

United States

Hardy, calm, cold-tolerant

Rouen

France

Docile, slow, ornamental

Welsh Harlequin

Wales

Calm, excellent layer, friendly

Buff Duck

United States/United Kingdom

Gentle, attractive, dual-purpose

Swedish Blue

Sweden

Hardy, calm, foraging

Call Duck

Netherlands/United Kingdom

Noisy, compact, showy

Aylesbury

England

Docile, meat-type, slow

Mallard (Domestic)

Worldwide (domestic form)

Wild-type alertness; domestic lines vary

What WARN Does

World Animal Rescue Network does not run field projects dedicated to wild ducks, which are widespread across the Northern Hemisphere and beyond, outside the countries where WARN's partners work. This guide is part of WARN's free educational library. The threats that affect specialised ducks most — wetland drainage, pollution and habitat loss — are the same pressures that harm many of the animals WARN's partners do protect, so understanding them helps the wider cause.

If this guide helped you understand ducks a little better, a small gift helps keep WARN's free wildlife education growing and supports the animals its partners care for every day.

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How does the duck compare?

Duck vs Goose →

Duck: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a duck, a goose and a swan?

All three belong to the same family, Anatidae. Ducks are generally the smallest and shortest-necked, with flat bills suited to dabbling or diving. Geese are larger, with longer necks and a more upright, grazing build. Swans are the largest, with very long necks and mostly white plumage in familiar species. Size and neck length are the quickest ways to tell them apart.

What is the most common type of duck?

The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most familiar and widespread duck across the Northern Hemisphere. The drake has a glossy green head, white neck-ring and chestnut breast, while the female is mottled brown. Mallards thrive almost anywhere with water, from wild marshes to city park ponds, and are the ancestor of nearly all domestic duck breeds.

Why do ducks not get wet or cold in the water?

Ducks waterproof their feathers by preening, spreading natural oils and zipping the feather barbs together so water runs off. Beneath the outer feathers, a thick layer of down traps air and insulates against cold. Their legs also have a heat-exchange system in the blood flow, so ducks lose very little body heat even when swimming in icy water or standing on ice.

What do you call a male, female and baby duck?

A male duck is called a drake, a female is called a duck or a hen, and the young are ducklings. In many Northern Hemisphere species the drake has bright breeding plumage while the hen is mottled brown for camouflage on the nest. After breeding, drakes often moult into a duller 'eclipse' plumage that looks much like the female.

What do ducks eat?

Ducks are omnivores with varied diets. Dabbling ducks like the mallard eat seeds, water plants, grasses, insects and small aquatic animals taken at or just below the surface, often by upending. Diving ducks feed underwater on plants, molluscs, crustaceans and fish. Many ducks eat more plant matter outside the breeding season and take more protein-rich invertebrates when laying eggs and raising young.

Are ducks endangered?

It depends on the species. Many familiar ducks, such as the mallard, are classed by the IUCN as Least Concern and remain abundant. However, ducks restricted to small islands or specialised wetlands can be endangered or even extinct, mainly because of wetland drainage, pollution, introduced predators and hunting. Since all ducks depend on healthy wetlands, protecting those habitats is key to their future.

Where do ducks live?

Ducks live on fresh and salt water on every continent except Antarctica, from Arctic tundra ponds to tropical wetlands and coastal estuaries. The familiar mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is one of the most widespread waterbirds in the Northern Hemisphere. Different species favour marshes, lakes, rivers or open sea, but all depend on healthy wetlands for feeding, moulting and nesting. IUCN estimates more than 17 million mature mallards worldwide.

Are ducks dangerous?

Most ducks are not dangerous to people, though wild birds may bite if cornered or during nesting season. Large relatives such as swans can be aggressive when defending young, but typical dabbling ducks like the mallard are timid. The greater risk is to ducks themselves: habitat loss, pollution, hunting and predation threaten specialised species, even though common ducks such as the mallard remain Least Concern and abundant.

How long do ducks live?

Lifespan varies by species and conditions. Wild mallards typically live around 5 to 10 years, though many fall to predators or hunting in their first year. Captive ducks often live longer with steady food and protection. Longevity records for wild mallards exceed 25 years. Because ducks mature quickly and lay large clutches, populations can remain stable even when individual survival is relatively short.

How big is a duck?

Size varies widely across the many duck species in family Anatidae. The mallard — the most familiar dabbling duck — measures about 50–65 cm in body length and weighs 0.7–1.6 kg. Diving ducks and sea ducks can be larger and heavier. All share a broad flat bill, webbed feet and waterproof plumage that lets them feed at the surface or underwater depending on the species.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

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