Ducks are a common sight in lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands. Their ability to stay underwater for extended periods of time while hunting for food or evading predators is impressive. If you’ve ever wondered just how long ducks can hold their breath and stay submerged, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Most duck species can stay underwater for 2-3 minutes on average. Some diving ducks like the Long-tailed Duck can hold their breath for up to 5 minutes.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about ducks and their underwater abilities. We’ll look at the physiology that allows them to stay submerged for minutes at a time, factors that influence how long they can hold their breath, how different duck species compare, and some interesting facts and records related to ducks and diving.
Anatomy and Physiology Behind Ducks’ Diving Abilities
Lungs and Air Sacs
Ducks have a complex respiratory system that enables them to stay underwater for extended periods. Their lungs are connected to a system of nine air sacs that act as bellows to move air in and out. When diving, ducks utilize air stored in these sacs so they can continue to breathe underwater without having to surface (similar to how humans carry oxygen tanks for scuba diving).
This allows them to forage for food at depth or escape from predators.
Studies show ducks’ air sacs and high red blood cell counts give them an oxygen storage capacity over 2.5 times that of similarly-sized mammals. This impressive physiology underlies their diving ability.
Heart Rate and Blood Flow
A duck’s heart rate slows dramatically while diving from a resting rate of over 200 beats per minute to just 20. This allows the duck to conserve oxygen and remain submerged for longer periods. Blood flow is also redirected from less vital organs to the heart, lungs and brain during a dive.
Some duck species like the Long-tailed Duck can dive to depths over 60 meters (200 feet). Their hearts and circulatory systems are highly adapted to endure the massive pressure changes.
Feathers and Body Shape
The structure and coverage of a duck’s feathers make them waterproof and help insulate their bodies while underwater. Their buoyant bodies are oval-shaped and allow them to dive with little effort or splash. Mallard and decoy ducks in particular have streamlined profiles that minimize drag.
Many diving duck species have feet positioned far back on their bodies for more efficient propulsion. Their wings can also provide lift and thrust underwater once initial momentum is achieved.
What Factors Influence How Long Ducks Can Stay Underwater?
Species Variation
There is considerable variation between duck species in how long they can stay submerged. For example, larger diving ducks like the Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) can remain underwater for up to 2 minutes to search for food, while smaller dabbling ducks like the Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) generally stay under for less than 30 seconds at a time.
Larger ducks tend to have more oxygen stored in their muscles and blood, allowing them to hold their breath longer.
Age
Baby ducklings cannot stay underwater for more than a few seconds, as they have not yet developed the ability to regulate their heart rate and blood oxygen like adult ducks. As they mature over their first few months, ducks gradually are able to remain submerged for longer periods.
Most ducks reach their maximum breath-holding ability by one year of age.
Purpose of Diving
Ducks that dive underwater to find food and feed typically stay under longer than ducks that are just bathing or escaping predators. For example, pochards like the Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) can dive up to 20 meters deep searching for mollusks and aquatic plants, remaining submerged for over a minute.
Dabbling ducks that feed at the surface rarely stay under for more than 20 seconds at a time.
Water Temperature
Frigid water temperatures force ducks to resurface sooner than they would in warmer waters according to Ducks Unlimited. Colder water quickly saps a duck’s body heat, putting them at risk of hypothermia if they stay under too long.
However, ducks that live in polar regions can gradually acclimate to near-freezing waters.
Training and Experience
Young ducklings learn to hold their breath underwater longer from their mothers, getting training in finding food while diving from a very early age. Additionally, adult ducks that frequently have to dive for sustenance likely develop larger oxygen storage capacities and heart regulation abilities over time.
For example, a two-year-old diving duck could probably stay under appreciably longer than a juvenile of the same species.
Breath-Holding Abilities of Different Duck Species
Mallards
Mallards are one of the most common duck species and can hold their breath for an impressive 30-60 seconds while diving for food or escaping predators. Their ability to go without air for almost a minute aids mallards in finding aquatic plants, insects, and small fish.
Research shows mallards use oxygen stored in their muscles and blood during dives, allowing them to stay under for up to a minute before needing to surface for air.
Wood Ducks
Beautifully colored wood ducks are also adept divers, capable of holding their breath for 30-45 seconds. They use their specialized bill to grasp acorns, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates while swimming underwater.
By controlling their heart rate and using oxygen stored in their blood and muscles, wood ducks can remain submerged for 30-45 seconds to forage along pond bottoms and riverbeds before resurfacing.
Canvasbacks
Canvasbacks are large diving ducks that can stay underwater for impressively long periods. Studies show canvasbacks can hold their breath for 1-1.5 minutes while diving to depths over 20 feet to feed on aquatic plants, roots, and invertebrates.
Their leathery head allows them to dig through bottom sediment while holding their breath. Canvasbacks even have specialized hemoglobin in their blood that allows them to thrive with low oxygen levels during dives.
Long-tailed Ducks
Aptly named for their extra long tail feathers, long-tailed ducks are champion divers, capable of holding their breath for a remarkable 2-3 minutes. Long-tailed ducks dive deep to find mussels, snails, and other food along rocky bottoms.
Researchers believe long-tailed ducks can endure such long dives due to high myoglobin concentrations in their muscles, which store extra oxygen. Their long tail helps propel them underwater as they hunt.
Eiders
Eiders are large seaducks well-adapted for diving in frigid northern waters. They can hold their breath an astounding 4-5 minutes while swimming 60 feet deep searching for shellfish, mollusks, and crustaceans.
To help conserve oxygen, eiders reduce their heart rate and shut down blood flow to non-essential organs when diving. Their dense plumage also helps retain body heat in icy waters. Eiders’ incredible breath-holding abilities allow them to dive deep and thrive where other ducks cannot.
Noteworthy Ducks Diving Records and Facts
Ducks have some truly remarkable diving abilities that allow them to forage underwater for food and escape from predators. Certain species are especially adept divers that can plunge to depths and stay submerged for lengths that may surprise some people.
Longest Dives
Among duck species, the Long-tailed Duck holds the record for the longest dive documented. One female Long-tailed Duck was recorded staying underwater for a whopping 230 seconds, or nearly 4 minutes. That’s an incredible length to go without air!
Other outstanding diving ducks include:
- Tufted Duck – recorded dive of 137 seconds
- Greater Scaup – 120 seconds
- Lesser Scaup – 83 seconds
So while most dabbling duck species only dive for 30 seconds or less, these diving ducks have evolved superior air storage and oxygen conservation abilities to stay under for multiple minutes.
Deepest Dives
The deepest dive recorded for a duck was by a White-winged Scoter that descended an astonishing 60 meters (196 feet)! Other deep diving contenders include:
- Long-tailed Duck – 49 meters
- Common Goldeneye – 20 meters
- Barrow’s Goldeneye – 18 meters
The secret to these deep plunges is an innate ability to withstand substantial water pressure changes that could damage the ears, lungs, and other organs of shallow water fowl.
Species | Deepest Recorded Dive (m) | Longest Recorded Dive (sec) |
---|---|---|
White-winged Scoter | 60 | 83 |
Long-tailed Duck | 49 | 230 |
From this comparison, you can see that the duck with the longest dive is not necessarily the deepest diver. Diving abilities differ across species optimized for various underwater foraging strategies.
Young Ducks
Newly hatched ducklings have an endearing, albeit awkward swimming style. But despite their clumsiness above water, even 1-day old ducklings can dive impressively deep – up to 9 meters (30 feet)! Their downy coat and buoyant bodies make it a laborious task to fight the upward pressure without strong flight feathers.
Still, they tenaciously flutter and paddle to touch bottom.
Ducklings follow their mothers and exhibit these natural diving instincts from the moment they hatch. Mother ducks can also continue foraging while simultaneously watching over their bobbing brood as they surface around her.
Its a survival necessity to acclimate young ducks to their aquatic environment early.
So while amusing to watch their wobbly gyrations across a pond, appreciate that awkward duckling paddling with awe since they are actually advanced divers from day one!
Conclusion
Ducks have evolved as excellent divers, with specialized physiology that allows them to stay underwater for several minutes while hunting and escaping predators. While most ducks can hold their breath for 2-3 minutes on average, some are capable of staying submerged for up to 5 minutes due to larger oxygen storage and efficient oxygen use when diving.
Factors like species, age, purpose, water temperature and experience all play a role in determining maximum dive times. Diving ducks have the most impressive breath-holding capabilities, with the Long-tailed Duck reaching dives of over 5 minutes.
Clearly, ducks are beautifully adapted for an aquatic lifestyle. The next time you see a duck disappear beneath the water’s surface, take a moment to appreciate the anatomy and adaptations that allow it to explore a whole underwater world we rarely get to see.