What Is A Duck?

A duck is a bird of the waterfowl family.
Here in Oregon, a Duck is a member of a Univarsity sports team that attends college in Eugene, Oregon. Fans of this team are also known as Ducks.

This has info all about ducks en.wikipedia.org

A duck is a waterbird belonging to the family Anatidae.  There are a large number of species within this family that includes domesticated ducks that descended from wild mallard ducks.  Ducks usually have a gentle and pleasant demeanour and are often found in barnyards and around private lakes and ponds.  Both salt and freshwater environments appeal to ducks and they can be found in many regions around the world.  These birds are also popular for the tasty eggs they can supply and for their meat.

Ducks can usually be easily distinguished from other waterbirds.  They have short legs with webbed feet that allow them to easily navigate their watery environment.  Ducks have broad, flat bills that allow them to sift through aquatic grasses and mud to find prey and edible plants.  They have quite muscular bodies that are well built for diving and dredging.  All these features contribute to ducks appearing quite graceful while swimming and diving.

When on land, ducks have a particular gait usually described as a waddle.  This is evidence of their body being particularly suited to marine life.  A duck’s legs are placed quite far back on its body, which causes their somewhat awkward movement on land.  Ducks are able to fly, except when they are molting, and many will migrate over a great distance every year to mate and raise their young.

Male ducks are called drakes and baby ducks are called ducklings.  The word duck comes from duncan, the Anglo-Saxon word meaning ‘to dive’.  Ducks usually only pair off for the mating season and to raise their ducklings.  Most ducks reach sexual maturity in about a year.  Most species of duck are sexually dimorphic, with monotone or drab coloured females and brightly coloured decorative males.

Despite many people associating quacking with ducks, a surprising number of ducks do not actually quack.  Many ducks are able to produce a range of other calls that they use to inform other ducks in their flock.

Ducks have a vast range of colours and sizes with some having crests or other defining features.  Domesticated ducks include the white Pekin duck, Blue Cayuga, Khaki Cambell, Mallard, Call, Crested Swedish, Indian Runner, and Aylesbury.  A bald neck and head distinguish the Muscovy duck.  Wild ducks are separated into a number of groups that include perching, diving, and dabbling.