Ducks are classified as birds, not mammals or amphibians. All birds fall into the category of Aves. Birds are vertebrates that are warm-blooded and have feathers. They also have beaked jaws that don’t have teeth, and they lay eggs with hard shells.
Many people mistake ducks for amphibians because they inhabit both fresh and salt water, and mammals probably because they have fur-like feathers. However, the duck’s bird characteristics override any physical similarities it may have with amphibians or mammals.
A Duck’s Habitat
The bird often nests near a lake, pond, river, or even pool found in woodland areas. However, they show a preference for natural grasslands that surround sloughs full of reeds, marshy areas, or potholes located on the prairies.
Ducks can be found all over the world, on every continent aside from Antarctica. Migratory ducks primarily reside in the Northern Hemisphere and generally stick to tropical climates while non-migratory ducks are found elsewhere, such as in Australia. These birds often frequent bodies of water that only exist temporarily after rainfall.
A Duck’s Diet
Ducks eat a variety of food sources, including aquatic plants, insects, small fish, small amphibians, and worms. If you own a duck, you can supplement its diet with cracked corn, mealworms, and other chopped vegetables.
How Do Ducks Reproduce?
Ducks usually only mate with one other duck at a time, but the relationship typically only lasts for about twelve months. They mate through internal fertilization, which is when the male inserts his penis into a female duck’s oviduct. His sperm is transported from the testicles to her oviduct, where it can then fertilize any eggs that are present. When the sperm penetrates the eggs, they become fertilized.
Also, did you know that ducks can lay eggs regardless of whether or not there is a drake around? If a duck is not able to find a mate, she can still lay unfertilized eggs. However, these will not hatch into ducklings.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the answer to the question, “Are ducks mammals or amphibians?” you can better appreciate these creatures for the birds that they are. Though they may share some physical characteristics with mammals and amphibians, they are still classified as birds. So, the next time you see a duck, remember that it is not an amphibian or a mammal, but a bird!
