#Mallard duck sounds series

What a duckling sees during the first 60 minutes of its young life will critically impact its behavior for the rest of its life.

The pitter-patter type of sound means the ducks are using their webbed feet to move quickly on dry ground or through a mud puddle.

A sudden loud flash can mean a duck or ducks are “running” across the water and might be trying to catch the wind and fly – possibly because a threat is near.A rustling sound indicates that grass, brush, or dried leaves usually means a duck or ducks are foraging for food under protective cover from predators.A long splash followed by a gliding sound means the duck is skinning gently across the surface of the water.A soft rustling sound combined with a small amount of splashing generally means a duck is filtering along the pond or pool surface snagging a little drink or snack.The sounds you hear coming from the duck coop can also let you know what the flock members are doing at any given time. Being able to communicate without saying a word can truly be a life-saving instinct of these adorable egg and meat producers. Ducks have no natural defenses against predators, especially domesticated ducks which can not fly in any real sense of the word. The term “sitting duck” was coined with good reason. The non-verbal duck language can be just as informative as the sounds the poultry birds make. There are many times that a duck needs to relay a message or wants other members of the flock to know what it wants without making a sound. The louder the sound a duck makes, the more urgent a message it is trying to share.ĭucks may make any of the following sounds when they are scared, courting, excited, or hungry: Hiss A different sound or pitch will be made by ducks when they think it is feed time, to call their mate, etc. The duck language is specific to what the poultry bird is trying to convey to other members of the flock.įor instance, ducks will make a specific sound when warning others about a looming threat from a potential predator.

#Mallard duck sounds series

In addition to the quacking sounds ducks also honk (especially the ladies of many breeds) and make a series of other tell-tale noises. Some duck breeds, especially wild ones, make a whistling and/or raspy sounding quack so they can communicate more quietly, and attract less attention from predators. Typically, although it can vary by breed, both male and female ducks quack loudly at first and then more quietly as their string of conversation continues. While ducks do not mate for life, they can be seasonally monogamous. If you hear a duck hen quacking or honking repeatedly in a high-pitched tone, she could be calling her mate or alerting him to her whereabouts.Ī hen can also use quacking or honking to alert other females in the flock that she has claimed a drake for her mate. Quackingĭuck hens quack for a broad range of reasons: to call their ducklings, and when they are in the process of laying an egg, to show happiness, or to alert about the presence of a predator. Males, as they mature, the high-pitched sound a duckling makes will give way to the deeper sound associated with their breed and sex. Ducklings have an evolving vocal pattern.Ī female duck can sound bossy or grumpy even when she is happy. Mature male ducks usually produce a deeper and more rapid sound than mature females. It will not matter if you purchased day old ducklings from a breeder or hatched your own either inside of an incubator or via a momma hen, all adorable tiny ducklings will have the same instinctive verbal and non-verbal language and actions once they finish poking their well out of a shell. Adamant free-ranging ducks have been known to show up on a keeper’s doorstep calling them out to tend to the chore. It will not take long before you begin to get the gist of what the duck flock wants though, especially if you are late to the coop at feeding time. A hen usually takes a more demanding and higher tone when communicating with her ducklings and other flock members.Īlthough we will never be sure exactly what one duck is saying to another, the members of the flock seem to easily understand each verbal and non-verbal cue. Both drakes (male ducks) and hen (female ducks) typically develop vocal “speech” patterns that sound unique enough that a keeper can easily differentiate between the two.ĭrakes generally communicate verbally in a lower tone and in a more rapid manner.