With their large bodies and steady waddle, pekin ducks don’t seem capable of much aerobatic activity. If you’re wondering whether these ducks actually lift off and soar through the air, you’re not alone.
While pekin ducks do have wings, their flying abilities are quite limited compared to wild duck species.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: While pekin ducks have wings and can flap them, they cannot truly fly or soar like wild ducks. Their large bodies and breast meat make it impossible for them to become airborne.
An Overview of Pekin Ducks
Origins and Characteristics
The Pekin duck originates from China, where it has been domesticated for over 2000 years. Sometimes called the American Pekin duck, this breed was brought to the United States from China in the late 1800s. Since then, it has become the most popular commercial duck breed in North America.
Pekin ducks are characterized by their large size, white plumage, and orange beaks and feet. They typically weigh between 7-10 pounds and stand about 2 feet tall. The hens tend to be a bit smaller than the drakes.
These ducks are known for their calm temperament and egg-laying abilities. Hens can produce 150-200 eggs per year. The eggs are creamy white in color and about 3 inches long. Pekin ducks are also bred for meat production due to their rapid growth rate and high dress-out percentage.
In addition to being raised on farms, Pekin ducks are sometimes kept as pets due to their friendly and sociable nature. Their sparkling white feathers make them an eye-catching addition to backyards and urban farms.
Behavioral Traits
Despite their large size, Pekin ducks are unable to fly. Their wings are not strong enough to get their heavy bodies off the ground. However, they are excellent walkers and can waddle around at a fast pace.
These ducks love swimming and will happily splash around in ponds or wading pools. In fact, they need access to water in order to stay healthy. Dabbling is one of their favorite water activities. They use their beaks to grab tasty morsels from just below the water’s surface.
Pekin ducks are very social animals that like to stay in groups. In the wild, they live in flocks of around 12 birds. The flock will forage together for food while keeping watch for predators. Drakes are particularly protective of hens while they are brooding eggs.
Their communication skills are quite impressive. Pekin ducks have over 40 distinct vocalizations ranging from soft murmurs to loud whistles and quacks. Their various calls allow them to maintain social bonds, signal danger, and express contentment.
With their friendly nature and mellow disposition, Pekin ducks make delightful additions to small farms, homesteads, and backyard flocks. Their bright white plumage provides a pleasing ornamental quality as well. Overall, the Pekin is an exceptionally popular and productive duck breed.
Pekin Duck Wings and Flight Attempts
Wing Structure and Size
Pekin ducks have wings that are proportionately small compared to their large, round bodies. Their wingspan reaches only about 2.5 feet fully extended. The wing bones, muscles, and feather structure are not capable of generating enough lift to get their heavy bodies off the ground for true flight (McAtee, 2021).
However, Pekin duck wings are perfectly designed for short bursts of speed swimming across ponds or escaped from predators. Their small, curved wings provide them with good maneuverability and splash power when paddling across the water.
So while they cannot fly, their wings do serve an important purpose!
Ground Flapping and Airborne Struggles
While Pekin ducks cannot achieve true flight, they do flap their wings frequently. It is quite common to see flocks of Pekins flapping wildly as they run across the yard. This flapping behavior serves several purposes:
- Balance – The wing flapping helps counterbalance their large, awkward bodies as they walk and run.
- Conditioning – It helps strengthen their wing muscles which aids in swimming.
- Cooling – The air circulation from flapping helps keep them from overheating.
- Communication – It signals alarm/excitement to the rest of the flock.
Some people claim they have seen their Pekin ducks become briefly airborne from time to time when spooked or flapping intensely. However, experts confirm Pekins lack the wing strength to truly fly and likely only manage to propel themselves a few inches off the ground (McAtee, 2021).
They do not have sustained flight capabilities.
| Wingspan | ~2.5 feet |
| Flight Capability? | No |
| Highest Recorded Flight | 2-3 inches off ground |
So while ducks cannot fly in the traditional sense, their wings do play a key role in their survival! Next time you see your Pekins flapping up a storm, remember they are just exercising, cooling down, or saying hello to their feathered friends!
Why Pekin Ducks Can’t Fly
Excess Weight
Pekin ducks, also known as the American Pekin duck, are a domesticated breed known for their large size and white plumage. Over years of selective breeding, Pekins have become much larger and heavier than their wild relatives.
An average adult Pekin duck can weigh up to 9 pounds, making them too heavy to fly effectively.
Wild mallard ducks, which are the ancestors of domestic ducks like the Pekin, weigh around 2-3 pounds on average. This lighter weight allows mallards to fly at speeds up to 55 mph. The Pekin’s excessive bulk makes achieving lift-off speed and altitude nearly impossible.
Lack of Flight Muscles
In addition to their heavyweight, Pekin ducks also lack the powerful flight muscles present in wild ducks. Mallards and other wild duck species have strong breast muscles (pectoral muscles) to enable wing flapping for take-off and soaring.
Since flight ability was not important for domesticated meat and egg production, Pekins were not bred to develop these high-performance muscles. So even if they dropped enough weight to get airborne, Pekins lack the power to flap their wings with enough force to stay aloft.
Domestication Changes
During their transition from wild mallards to domestic ducks, Pekins underwent genetic changes that prioritized meat and egg production over flight skills. This shift in selective pressure resulted in changes to their anatomy and physiology over generations.
As Pekins became adapted to live on farms and interact with humans, abilities like flying became less essential for their survival. So natural selection no longer favored the traits that enable flight. Consequently, the modern Pekin ended up as a flightless domestic duck.
Though they’ll never migrate or fly south for winter, Pekins lead happy, pampered lives, enjoying their golden years waddling around ponds and grassy yards. So while flight isn’t an option, their grounded lifestyle has its own charms.
Flight Ability in Wild Ducks vs. Pekins
Mallard and Wild Duck Flight
Wild mallard ducks are excellent flyers. Their powerful wings allow them to reach speeds up to 60 mph in flight. Mallards are migratory birds that fly long distances between breeding and wintering grounds. A mallard’s average migration route is over 1,000 miles each way.
Their stamina and speed make them one of the most widespread duck species in North America.
Other wild duck species like teals, pintails, and wigeons are also strong fliers adapted for migration. Their slender bodies and pointed wings give them an aerodynamic advantage. Wild ducks routinely fly several miles between feeding and resting areas.
Their excellent flight capabilities allow them to escape predators and survive long migrations between seasons.
The Difference With Pekins
Unlike their wild relatives, Pekin ducks are unable to fly. Through selective breeding, Pekins have lost their ability to migrate and fly long distances. Several key physical differences contribute to their lack of flight:
- Bodies – Pekins have a broad, rounded body shape compared to the slim profile of wild ducks. Their larger, heavier build creates more wind resistance during flight.
- Wings – A Pekin’s wings are small relative to its body size. The wings lack the power needed to get their heavy bodies off the ground.
- Breast Muscles – Pekins have underdeveloped breast muscles which make sustained flight impossible. Their breasts are proportionally larger to meet meat production goals.
While Pekins are unable to fly, they can flap their wings enough to glide short distances. For example, they may glide down from a fence or elevated coop. But any sustained or directed flight is beyond a Pekin’s physical capabilities.
Their wings are made for balance and steering, not migration over vast distances.
Allowing Pekins to Flap and Exercise Wings
Providing Space and Cover
Pekin ducks are naturally inclined to flap their wings and exercise, so it’s important to provide them with enough space and facilities to engage in this beneficial behavior. An outdoor enclosure of at least 10 square feet per duck is ideal, with places for them to flap their wings without bumping into obstacles.
You can add plastic kiddie pools, shallow pans of water, or duck ramps with textured surfaces to give them space to flap and play.
Ducks also appreciate shelters and hiding spots in their enclosure where they can retreat from weather or feel safe from predators. Use large dog houses, igloos, or make little huts out of wood and straw so your Pekins have cover.
Adding branches, logs, and ramps also gives them elevated perching spots to stand and flap their wings.
By ensuring your Pekins have adequate room to engage in natural behaviors like flapping, you’ll keep them healthy and content. According to The Happy Chicken Coop, daily exercise strengthens ducks’ wings, legs, and hearts.
Supervising Play Time
It’s wise to supervise your Pekins during play and wing flapping time. Young ducklings may get over-enthusiastic, flap too vigorously, and accidentally harm themselves or others. Gently discourage any very aggressive flapping by separating ducks if needed.
Also watch for signs of bullying or exclusion, which can happen if some ducks flap and play more actively than others. Make sure all your Pekins get a chance to exercise in a safe environment. Ducks that flap their wings extensively every day will be healthier overall.
You can also take your Pekins out of their enclosure on supervised walks around your yard. The change of scenery and exercise will delight them! Just be vigilant about predators. Discourage any long flights by catching and returning ducks gently to the ground.
Free ranging is usually inadvisable unless they are closely monitored.
With attentive supervision and by addressing any behavioral issues early, you can ensure your Pekins get the wing flapping enrichment they need. Their amusing antics will brighten your day as well!
Conclusion
While pekin ducks love to flap their wings and put on a lively show, these domestic birds lack the proper muscles and light weight required for true flight. Their wings remain vestigial structures that can’t provide lift or sustained aerial movement.
However, their flapping instinct shows these ducks still retain bits of their wild ancestry. Letting pekin ducks spread their wings ensures their health and provides some entertainment as well!
