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Dieren en planten

Ducks   Shoveler   Teal   Shelduck   Mallard duck   Wigeon   Goldeneye   Tufted duck   Eider   Common scoters   Red-breasted merganser   Greater Scaup   Gadwall   Swimming birds   

Ducks

color:

males and females often differ in color

foraging method:

dabbling or diving

characteristics:

webbed feet

habitat:

fresh or salt water

  • Dut: Eenden
  • Lat: Anatidae
  • Eng: Ducks
  • Ger: Enten
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Ducks

Ducks have webbed feet and water repellent feathers, just like most water fowl. Male ducks are usually much more colorful than females. When young ducklings hatch, they leave the nest almost immediately, but stay close to their mother. Should danger threaten, they look for cover under her wings.

  • Dabbler or diver

    By sticking its head under water and upending its rear while swimming, a duck is able to search the surface of the bottom for aquatic plants and small benthic animals. This method is called dabbling. Shovelers, teal, mallards, shelducks and wigeon are dabblers. Other ducks dive underwater for food. That means they can live in deeper waters. Tufted ducks, goldeneyes, eiders and mergansers are divers.