Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Ducks (With Pictures!)

The Washington Huskies football team takes on their archrival to the south this weekend when they face the Oregon Ducks at Husky Stadium.

In order to educate fans on the opponent, we did some research on Ducks and have compiled our findings in this article.

Each of the following entries have been adapted from various references across the web. Please follow the highlighted links within the text for visual aids.

1. Origin of the word “duck”

The term duck comes from the old English word dūce .

2. Old ducks versus young ducks

A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage or baby duck ; but in the food trade young adult ducks ready for roasting are sometimes labeled “duckling”.

3. Appearance

The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage , but that is molted in summer to give a more female-like appearance .

4. Breeding

Ducks are generally monogamous , although these bonds generally last a single year only .

The male ducks perform courtship displays in fall and winter to attract females. These displays involve head and tail shaking; wing flapping ; quacks , whistles , and other sounds ; etc .

5. Hunting

In many areas, wild ducks of various species are hunted for food or sport . Because an idle, floating duck or a duck squatted on land cannot react, fly or move quickly, “a sitting duck” has come to mean “an easy target” .

6. Experimentation

In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire (United Kingdom) finished a year-long Laugh-Lab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness . [Wiseman] said “If you’re going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck .”

7. Food/Consumption

Duck meat is derived primarily from the breasts and legs of ducks .

8. Migration

Ducks, like other waterfowl, tend to follow the same path year after year when they migrate.

We sincerely hope that you have found the preceding facts about Ducks useful in your research. For more information, head out to Husky Stadium on Saturday (kickoff at 12:30 PM) to witness a real, live Duck roast.

Go Dawgs!