| Ducks were
once wild until they were domesticated by the Chinese
many hundreds of years ago.
Ducks keep clean by preening
themselves with their beaks, which they do often. They
also line their nests with feathers plucked from their
chest.
Ducks' feathers are waterproof.
There is a special gland that produces oil near the tail
that spreads and covers the outer coat of feathers. Beneath
this waterproof layer are fluffy and soft feathers to
keep the duck warm.
Ducks provide us with eggs,
meat and feathers.
Ducks' feet have no nerves
or blood vessels. This means ducks never feel the cold,
even if they swim in icy cold water.
A duck waddles instead of walking
because of its webbed feet.
Ducks have webbed feet, which
act like paddles.
Ducks can live from 2-12 years,
depending on the species.
The duck is the smallest of
them all and have shorter necks and wings and a stout
body.
Ducks are related to geese
and swans.
A male duck is called a drake,
a female is called a duck. Babies are called ducklings.
All of the Peking ducks in
the United States are descendents from three ducks and
one drake imported to Long Island, New York in 1873.
A duck has three eyelids.
A duck's quack has no echo.
Some ducks and geese can fly
as much as 332 miles a day! |