For those of you that have wondered what ducks do when they dive underwater, you no longer have to wonder. We have some pretty awesome footage that we got from a Facebook post that somebody made with an underwater camera.
First, here are a few facts on diving ducks via Ducks.org:
Among North American waterfowl, three distinct tribes of ducks are collectively known as diving ducks:
- Stifftails (ruddy ducks)
- Sea ducks (eiders, scoters, mergansers, goldeneyes, buffleheads, long-tailed ducks, and harlequin ducks)
- Pochards (canvasbacks, redheads, scaup, and ring-necked ducks)
While there are significant differences among these birds, they all share unique behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations for diving and feeding underwater.
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he body of a diving duck is much more compact and fusiform (wider in the middle and tapering toward the end) than that of a dabbler.
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Divers’ wings are also more compact, which allows them to be compressed tightly against the body for greater diving efficiency.
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Divers’ legs are set much farther back on their body, and their feet are much larger and have a lobed hind toe. These adaptations help propel the birds while they are underwater.
So, now you can watch this video with a little more knowledge on diving ducks–if you didn’t already know the above info. Enjoy the cool footage!
(Feature photo by Stiver Photos via ontfin.com)
