Bird
Anas platyrhynchos domesticus
Anas platyrhynchos domesticusAlso known as Pekin Duck, Barnyard Duck, Farm Duck
Domestic ducks descend primarily from wild mallards, bred over millennia for eggs, meat, and colorful plumage. Many breeds are too heavy for flight, relying on dense waterproof feathers and webbed feet to navigate farmyards and suburban ponds. They forage by dabbling upside down in shallow water, sifting through silt for seeds, invertebrates, and greens.
DomesticatedWaterfowlOmnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAquatic Insects, Pond Snails, Grains
Predators
- Red Fox
- Raccoon
- Coyote
ThreatsMammalian predators, avian diseases, water contamination
HabitatsFarms, suburban ponds, wetlands, pastures
Life span5–12 years
Classification
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnatidae
- GenusAnas
- SpeciesAnas platyrhynchos domesticus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Feeding Guidelines: Offer lettuce, peas, or specialized waterfowl feed instead of bread.
- Approaching Flocks: Move calmly and quietly to avoid startling brooding females or ducklings.
- Pond Etiquette: Keep pet dogs on leashes near water bodies to protect resting birds.
Wild Ancestor This picture was realized by Richard Bartz by using a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Farmyard Companion (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Farmyard Companion (c) bitsnbirds, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by bitsnbirds · cc-by
Close Relative Chuck Homler d/b/a FocusOnwWildlife / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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