Ducks are a common sight in parks, lakes, and ponds. But if you take a closer look, you’ll notice not all ducks look alike. The males and females have distinct plumage, and adult male ducks in particular have colorful feathers.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: An adult male duck is called a drake. But there’s much more to learn about these striking waterfowl. In this 3000 word guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about adult male duck terminology and biology.
The 3 Main Types of Adult Male Ducks
Mallard Drake
The mallard drake is likely the most recognizable adult male duck. With its iridescent emerald head, gray body, chestnut breast and curving white neck ring, the mallard drake is a familiar sight in lakes and ponds across North America (Source).
Mallard drakes reach full coloration at around 1 year old. Their striking green heads are an example of sexual dimorphism – where the male develops more vibrant plumage than the female. This helps attract mating partners.
Mallard drakes also emit a raspy “rab-rab-bri-bri” call and puff out their chests during courtship displays.
Mallard ducks are extremely adaptable and can thrive in urban and suburban environments as well as wilderness wetlands. The US Fish & Wildlife Service estimates there are about 11 million breeding mallards across North America, making them one of the most abundant duck species.
Wood Duck Drake
The wood duck drake is a remarkably colorful species known for its gleaming feathers. As described by the National Audubon Society, adult males have “red eyes, red feet, white throat, iridescent green head with white stripes and erect crest.”
Their puffed, flattened crest makes them easily identifiable.
Wood ducks inhabit wooded swamps and ponds across the eastern half of the United States. Drakes engage in elaborate, synchronized courtship displays, hopping and jerking their crests to catch females’ attention.
They nest in tree cavities near water and fiercely defend their brood if the nest is approached.
Habitat loss has impacted wood duck populations, but they remain common in areas with good forest and wetland habitat. Their striking beauty has made wood duck drakes a favorite among birdwatchers and waterfowl enthusiasts.
Mandarin Drake
Native to Asia but introduced in parks across Europe and North America, the mandarin drake is often described as the most beautiful duck on Earth. These ornate waterfowl feature a red bill, large white crescent above the eye, purple sail-like feathers on the back, and wild orange “whiskers” on the cheeks.
A 2012 study in Waterbirds journal confirmed what many people already knew – both men and women ranked images of the mandarin drake as the most attractive duck (Source). Beauty aside, mandarin drakes are also one of just two duck species that can perch in trees like songbirds.
While still considered an introduced species in most parts of Europe and North America, mandarin ducks have adapted well to park habitats and some have even established small breeding populations. Ornithology experts speculate their populations outside Asia may continue to increase in coming years.
What Do You Call a Baby Male Duck?
There are a couple of special terms used to describe a male duck during the early stages of its life. The most common names are “duckling” and “drakelet.”
Duckling
A male duck in its first few weeks of life is typically referred to as a “duckling.” This term applies to both male and female ducks while they are still quite young and covered in fluffy down feathers.
Ducklings are extremely cute and endearing to watch as they waddle around behind their mother. During this stage, it can be difficult to determine whether a duckling is male or female just by looks alone.
Within their first 2-3 months of life, ducklings will start to shed their downy feathers and begin growing their adult plumage. It is usually at this stage when male and female ducks begin to show distinctive physical differences.
Drakelet
A less common term for a male duckling is a “drakelet.” This word follows the same convention as a male adult duck being called a “drake.”
Calling a male duck a drakelet indicates that it is transitioning from the duckling stage but is not quite old enough yet to be considered a fully mature drake. This in-between period is generally around 3-5 months of age.
At this stage, the drakelet will have lost its duckling down and have its adult feathers mostly filled in. However, it still may show some subtle physical and behavioral differences compared to a full grown drake.
While the terms “duckling” and “drakelet” are not used universally, they provide some additional specificity on the age and growth stage of a young male duck. Once a male duck is fully mature, after about 6-8 months, it is then simply referred to as a drake.
Interesting Facts About Drake Ducks
Bright Coloration
One of the most striking features of drake ducks is their colorful and iridescent plumage. During breeding season, drakes will develop bright feather patterns and colors to attract potential mates. Some species like the Wood Duck and Mandarin Duck have especially vibrant plumage in hues of red, orange, green, blue and purple.
The feathers seem to change color depending on how the light hits them. This amazing display of color helps the drakes stand out and show off for female ducks.
Courting Displays
Drake ducks have elaborate courtship rituals to impress female ducks during breeding season. They will perform complex mating displays both in the water and on land. Some of the displays include:
- Head bobbing – Drakes will rapidly bob their heads up and down to get attention.
- Grunting whistles – Loud vocalizations made with their specialized trachea.
- Mirroring – Drakes will imitate a female’s movements to show interest.
- Leading – Drakes will walk ahead of female, turning back to see if she follows.
- Preening – Drakes will meticulously clean and prune their feathers.
These rituals are a way for the drakes to showcase their suitability for mating. The females will observe these displays when selecting a healthy male to breed with.
Being Highly Territorial
Drake ducks are extremely territorial, especially in the breeding season. They do not tolerate other drakes encroaching on their space when trying to attract mates. Drakes will aggressively defend their area using:
- Loud warning calls – Harsh vocalizations to signal trespassers.
- Chest-bumping – Literally bumping chests to intimidate rivals.
- Chasing – Chasing after intruding drakes to drive them away.
- Fighting – Physical scuffles, sometimes to the point of injury.
Establishing a territory and patrolling the area is crucial for a drake’s reproductive success. They want to have primary access to females for mating without interference from competitors. These behaviors demonstrate the competitive nature of drake ducks when breeding season arrives.
Feeding, Habitat, and Migration
Omnivorous Diet
Adult male ducks, also known as drakes, are omnivorous and feed on a variety of plant and animal foods. Their diet consists of seeds, grains, aquatic plants, grasses, fruits, acorns, and aquatic insects. Drakes are opportunistic feeders and will eat almost anything they can find in their environment.
They use their broad bills to filter food from the water and shovel food from the land. Their diverse diet provides the nutrition needed to support their high-energy lifestyle.
During breeding season, drakes will eat protein-rich foods like aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans, and small fish to build up reserves for reproduction. At other times, they rely more heavily on plant foods that are abundant in their wetland habitats.
Drakes are social foragers and often feed together in flocks or pairs, whistling to communicate. This communal feeding allows them to take advantage of seasonal food resources.
Freshwater Habitats
Drakes inhabit a variety of freshwater wetlands including ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and streams. These habitats provide open water for swimming and diving, as well as dense vegetation for nesting and shelter.
Drakes particularly favor shallow wetlands with plenty of emergent vegetation like cattails, rushes, and reeds.
During the breeding season, drakes are highly territorial and establish nesting sites near water. They prefer sites with good visibility to watch for predators. Outside of breeding, drakes are gregarious and congregate in groups on open lakes and ponds.
Their waterproof feathers and webbed feet allow them to float buoyantly and dive for food underwater. At night, they often sleep floating on the water or perched on branches above the water.
Long Distance Migrations
Most duck species, including drakes, are migratory birds. They undertake incredible long-distance migrations each year between their breeding grounds in northern regions and wintering grounds in warmer southern regions.
For example, Mallard drakes may migrate over 1,000 miles between Canada and the United States annually.
These migrations allow ducks to take advantage of seasonal food resources and amenable weather conditions. Drakes navigate using the sun, stars, and magnetic fields. They fly in V-shaped formation to reduce wind resistance.
Before migrating, ducks gorge on food to store fat reserves to fuel these arduous journeys. Ducks can fly up to 60 miles per hour during migration. Their incredible navigation skills and endurance allow them to complete these annual round trip migrations.
Threats and Conservation
Hunting
Adult male ducks, commonly called drakes, face threats from hunting pressures. Drakes are prized by hunters for their colorful plumage and meat. During duck hunting season, drakes are pursued by recreational hunters as well as those hunting for sustenance.
This has led to population declines of some duck species in areas with heavy hunting activity. To help conserve duck populations, wildlife agencies often set bag limits on the number of drakes hunters can take in a day or season.
They may also set restrictions on hunting methods or declare temporary moratoriums on hunting particular species that are facing severe population threats.
Habitat Loss
Wetland habitat loss poses a major threat to duck populations around the world. Draining of wetlands for agriculture and development has drastically reduced available habitat for ducks to feed, breed, and raise young.
For example, it’s estimated over 50% of wetlands in North America have been lost since European settlement. This habitat loss removes vital nesting areas and food sources for ducks. Conservation groups are working to preserve key wetland areas through purchasing private lands or lobbying for protected status of public wetlands.
Individuals can also help by being vocal supporters of wetland protection policies in their local communities.
Conservation Efforts
Several conservation initiatives aim to protect adult male duck populations. These include:
- Breeding programs – Captive breeding of threatened duck species, with the goal of releasing ducks to boost wild populations. This helps counter hunting pressures and low reproduction rates.
- Nest boxes – Artificial nesting boxes provide safe nesting sites for ducks where natural options are limited. They may increase nest success and duckling survival.
- Wetland restoration – Restoring degraded wetlands gives ducks back vital habitat. This provides areas to build nests, find food, and take cover.
- Hunting regulations – As mentioned, bag limits help control over-hunting of drakes during hunting season. Other regulations like not allowing baiting may also help.
With combined efforts of wildlife agencies, conservation groups, and concerned citizens, we can take steps to protect the future of our treasured male duck populations.
Conclusion
Now that you know that an adult male duck is called a drake, you can impress your friends with your waterfowl knowledge. But don’t stop there – continue observing these remarkable birds and learning more about the different species, their behaviors, and ecology.
Appreciating ducks is a rewarding lifelong endeavor that connects us to the natural world.
