Ducks are a diverse group of waterfowl found globally. Highly adaptable, they inhabit a wide range of aquatic landscapes, from natural wetlands to human-modified settings. They are commonly encountered, making them familiar inhabitants of many ecosystems.
Natural Waterways and Wetlands
Ducks thrive in natural waterways and wetland systems, which provide resources for foraging, nesting, and shelter. Wetlands, including marshes, swamps, floodplains, and bogs, are favored habitats, offering abundant aquatic plants, insects, and fish. Shallow wetlands are especially suitable, allowing dabbling ducks to access submerged vegetation, seeds, and invertebrates by tipping forward. These environments often contain plants like cattails and bulrushes, which offer food and protective cover.
Lakes, ponds, and rivers also support diverse duck populations. Mallards, for example, prefer calm freshwater areas for dabbling. Wood ducks are found in streams, rivers, and beaver ponds, often nesting in tree cavities. Coastal estuaries, where fresh and saltwater mix, also provide varied food sources like mollusks and invertebrates for species such as the northern pintail and American black duck.
Urban and Suburban Environments
Ducks have adapted to human-modified landscapes, becoming a common sight in urban and suburban areas. Public parks, golf courses, and retention ponds are frequent locations. These environments often provide accessible water bodies, essential for swimming, foraging, and escaping threats. Golf courses, with their ponds and green spaces, offer valuable habitat, especially if designed with varied water depths and vegetation.
Ducks are attracted to these areas due to available water sources and sometimes artificial feeding, though bread is detrimental to their health. Mallards, known for their adaptability, are found in city park lakes, sometimes approaching visitors for food. Wild ducks forage for natural food, but domestic breeds, often released, may also inhabit these ponds.
Seasonal Movements
The presence of ducks is influenced by seasonal movements, especially migration. Many duck species are migratory, traveling long distances between northern breeding grounds and warmer southern wintering grounds. This migration is triggered by changes in daylight, temperature, and food availability. As winter approaches and water bodies freeze, ducks move southward for open water and food. Wetlands serve as stopover points for migratory ducks, offering safe places to rest and replenish energy during long journeys.
Some duck species, like mallards and wood ducks in southern regions, are non-migratory and remain year-round if conditions allow. Green-winged teal, for example, undertake extensive migrations. During spring, ducks return to their breeding grounds, arriving after snow thaws to utilize temporary wetlands rich in invertebrates for nesting and raising young. Post-breeding, adult males may undertake “molt migrations” to specific areas to shed flight feathers while temporarily flightless, seeking protective cover.