How Long Can Ducks Hold Their Breath? Ducks are members of the vast waterbird family Anatidae and are classified into two groups: dabbling ducks and diving ducks. Diving ducks, as the name implies, are skilled at diving underwater, which is how they often seek food. Dabbling ducks, on the other hand, feed on the surface of the water or on dry land. So, how long can ducks hold their breath before passing out?
How Long Can Ducks Hold Their Breath?
Dabbling ducks rarely dive underwater, but diving ducks may do some remarkable dives while holding their breath for 10 to 30 seconds. A White-Winged Scoter spent an average of 58 seconds underwater across six different dives in one investigation, with an interval of roughly 12 seconds between. Diving ducks frequently come to the surface several feet away from where they entered the water.
Eiders are likely the most adept divers of any ducks, with some accounts claiming they can dive to depths of 65 feet! Diving ducks have shorter wings than dabbling ducks and may shove themselves underwater using their powerful feet to propel themselves. How Long Can Ducks Hold Their Breath?
Why Do Ducks Go Underwater?
Diving ducks are seabirds that spend most of their time underwater rather than on or near the water. Ducks dive underwater to consume aquatic plants, catch small fish, and gather up crustaceans and insects. Distinct duck species have very different diets. Eider ducks, a type of diving duck, for example, eat almost entirely mollusks, shellfish, crustaceans, sea worms, and small fish. Mallards, a type of dabbling duck, on the other hand, are primarily herbivorous, eating primarily on grass. Diving ducks have evolved a considerably greater capacity to dive than other ducks since they must obtain food underwater.
How Long Can a Duck Stay Underwater?
Most ducks can submerge their heads and dive for a few seconds, but diving ducks are much better at remaining submerged. Scoters, for example, have been observed diving for five to six sessions, each lasting around one minute, with only a 10- to 12-second respite in between. Similarly, eiders are excellent divers; the Common eider is said to be capable of diving to depths of 65 feet (20 meters). Ducks can resurface around 20 feet from where they entered the water. The majority of dives are between 10 and 30 seconds long. That is still significant for a bird of this size.
What Types Of Ducks Can Swim Underwater?
Dabbling ducks are excellent swimmers but are not noted for their diving abilities. Mallards, wigeons, teals, gadwalls, and shovellers are examples of dabbling ducks, whereas diving ducks include sea ducks (eiders, mergansers, buffleheads, goldeneyes, scoters, and long-tailed ducks), stifftails, pochards, among others.
1. Mallards
Mallards can dive for insects and aquatic vegetation, but only for around 5 seconds. And Mallards graze for food on or near the water’s surface as dabbling ducks.
2. Long-Tailed Duck
The Long-tailed duck, a diving seaduck, can dive to depths of around 40 feet. Dives often last between 10 and 30 seconds.
3. Eider
Eiders come in a variety of varieties and are all adept divers. The Common Eider, for example, can supposedly dive to a depth of 65 feet, the deepest of any duck.
4. Scoters
Scoters have been documented diving for up to one minute and traversing 20 feet underwater.
5. Mergansers
The Merganser, another form of seaduck, may dive for 30 seconds in pursuit of fish. Mergansers have been observed diving to depths of 30 to 40 feet.
6. Wood Ducks
Wood ducks are a type of dabbling bird that rarely dives. They instead graze for aquatic and terrestrial plants in the water or on dry land.
How Fast Can Ducks Swim Underwater?
There is no solid information on how fast ducks can swim underwater. Ducks, on the other hand, can swim at rates of roughly 6 mph, which is probably as fast as they can move underwater. Ducks frequently resurface many feet from where they first entered the water. Long-tailed ducks have been seen resurfacing more than 30 feet from where they plunged, indicating that they move swiftly!
How Deep Can Ducks Dive?
Most diving ducks stay at a depth of 6 to 10 feet, while a few species go much deeper. Long-tailed ducks and mergansers, for example, have been observed diving to depths of nearly 40 feet. The Common Eider is the deepest diving duck, capable of diving to depths of 60 to 65 feet (20 to 25m).
Can Ducks Drown?
Ducks are birds, hence they cannot breathe underwater and are not completely aquatic. Instead, they make the most of their final breath before submerging. Ducks can undoubtedly drown if they stay submerged for an extended period of time. No duck species have been seen breathing underwater for more than one minute.
Can Ducks Breathe Underwater?
Ducks are unable to breathe underwater. In truth, no bird, including penguins, can breathe underwater. Ducks, on the other hand, use the oxygen they breathe on land very efficiently when diving underwater, much like a human elite free diver.
Can a Duck Drown Another Duck?
Ducks frequently mate on the water, which can result in the drowning of a female. Fortunately, this is uncommon, although it can happen when a group of mallards attacks a young female. During the breeding season, male ducks can become extremely aggressive, physically pursuing females and forcing them to mate.
Which Ducks Swim Underwater?
Most ducks can swim underwater for a foot or two, but diving ducks such as eiders, Long-tailed ducks, and mergansers take it a step further and can dive to great depths.
- Goldeneyes
- Mergansers
- Buffleheads
- Scaups
- Eiders
- Pochards
- Scoters
Which Ducks Don’t Swim Underwater?
All ducks have the ability to swim for short distances underwater. Dabbling ducks, on the other hand, have less need to dive long distances than diving ducks and seaducks. Dabbing ducks are as follows:
- Teals
- Gadwalls
- Shovellers
- Mallards
- Wood ducks
- Wigeons
Can Ducklings Go Underwater?
Klings can bob around in the water within a day or two of hatching, but they can’t swim safely until at least two to four weeks. During this stage, ducklings are frequently spotted dipping themselves underwater and diving short distances to catch little insects. Even dabbling ducklings can perform short dives.
When Can Ducklings Swim?
Ducklings can swim within a few days of hatching, however they are usually introduced to water after 5 to 7 days. Swimming is instinctual once ducklings are in the water, but it takes another four weeks for ducklings to swim confidently and become independent of their moms.
