Duck is the common name for a number of species of birds in the family of ducklings (Anatidae). All species of the Anatidae are called "ducks", except the species of the subfamily Anserinae, the geese and swans. Ducks are mainly aquatic birds, usually smaller than their relatives, swans and geese, with shorter necks, and can be found in both fresh and salt water. The Tadorninae, to which the shelduck, among others, belongs, have a size midway between a goose and a duck.
Ducks are sometimes confused with several species of unrelated birds with similar shapes, such as culverts, grebes, coots and moorhens. Sometimes "duck" refers only to female ducks. A male duck is called a "woerd". A young duck is called an arrow (sometimes piel). In general, chickens and ducks are also called "pullets" or "pulleke". A mallard duck, the most common species, can be recognized not only by its colour but also by some curly feathers on its tail (this is not always visible).
Photographed in Blijdorp Zoo
We are Loek and Karin Lobel, and our passion is animal photography, both in the wild and in zoos.
We are loek en Karin Lobel and we love to take pictures in the wild but also in the Zoo...
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