If you keep ducks as pets or enjoy observing the wild ducks in your local park, you’ve probably seen them wagging their tails in that adorable way! Just like a dog wagging its tail in excitement! Is it excitement that prompts ducks to do this, or is it something else? Let’s find out!
Ducks wag their tails when they express excitement or distress. They also rely on tail-wagging to shake off excessive water, maintain balance, and relax. During the breeding season, ducks wag their tails to attract mates. Tail-wagging may also be a symptom of the wet feather condition.
Are you curious to learn more? Keep reading, as we’ve got everything covered!
Table of Contents
Why Do Ducks Wag Their Tails?
Before checking out the possible reasons behind your duck’s tail-wagging behavior, ensure that your bird does not exhibit any other abnormal behaviors. Remember that animals can be very good at hiding symptoms of distress or diseases!
1. Courtship Display
Like any other bird, male ducks perform a courtship display during the breeding season to conquer a female!
As such, many species rely on wagging or shaking their tails to catch the attention of a mate. Some males may also flap their wings or shake their heads.
In return, certain females may respond to the males’ callings by wagging their tails. Et voilà! A pair has bonded!
2. Sign of Excitement
You may notice a duck wagging its tail after you feed it or interact with it – this may indeed be a sign of excitement!
Obviously, scientists do not actually know whether ducks can actually feel happiness the way humans do, but considering that they wag their tails when given food, we can suspect that they’re feeling something similar. It may also be an instinctive reaction to food.
3. To Shake Off Water
If you see a duck wagging its tail after getting out of the water, you can rest assured it’s just trying to shake the water off its plumage. That’s exactly what dogs do, so here’s another thing they have in common besides wagging their tails as a sign of excitement or thankfulness!
4. To Maintain Balance
Some ducks rely on tail wagging to maintain their balance when walking. Although their legs are located close to the middle of the body, they may sometimes need help maintaining balance, especially since their webbed feet aren’t as useful on land as they are in water. Therefore, the tail can act as a counterbalance when ducks forage on land.
5. To Relax
Bird watchers have reported that many ducks wag their tails after a confrontation with a predator or with other ducks, which typically occurs during the breeding and nesting season when they protect their families. In this situation, tail wagging helps them relax after a tough fight. They may also engage in this behavior after intense physical activities.
6. Wet Feather Disease
Tail wagging in ducks can be associated with the wet feather disease. This is an avian condition, which implies that the bird’s feathers lose integrity as a consequence of lack of oil produced by the preen gland.
This gland is responsible for producing the oil that is subsequently distributed through the plumage while the bird engages in a behavior called preening. This process makes the feathers waterproof.
If the oil isn’t produced anymore, the ducks find it hard to clean their plumage, and the feathers get waterlogged. This, in turn, leads to further conditions, like the appearance of parasites in the feathers or the inability to stay warm.
Ducks can also get wet feather if they over-preen. Barbules are damaged, and continuous preening will only make things worse, causing more damage to the feathers.
This condition is most often associated with domestic ducks that aren’t properly cared for, as in, they don’t have access to a source of water, or their diet isn’t nutritious enough.
How Can You Tell If a Duck Is Happy?
Every duck owner is probably eager to learn whether their ducks are happy and content! That’s only natural, as we’re always striving to provide our pets with the best care to ensure their well-being!
Well, tail wagging isn’t the only sign of the so-called happiness in ducks. There are some other behaviors you should keep in mind! However, don’t forget that nobody knows for sure ducks can actually feel happiness, but these signs may at least tell you they’re not stressed in their environment!
As such, if you see your ducks quacking in a prolonged, high-pitched manner, or if they move their heads up and down, they are probably informing you that they’re truly excited about something or that they feel comfortable in your backyard!
Nevertheless, the key to understanding your ducks’ behavior is observing them closely and noticing any changes!
What Type of Duck Wags Its Tail?
It is believed that all ducks wag their tails, but the reason behind this behavior probably differs. For example, domestic ducks most often wag their tails when you bring them food, whereas wild ducks, like muscovy ducks, wag their tails to shed off water or calm down.
On the other hand, you’ll see many more ducks wagging their tails during the breeding season, both in captivity and in the wild!
Ducks Wagging Tail and Panting
Panting usually occurs when ducks overheat, but if it happens at the same time as tail wagging, it may be a sign of extreme stress or sickness.
You should check for other signs of distress like lifting wings up and down, lack of energy, dehydration, vomiting, and any other symptoms that the duck may be unwell. If you’re unsure what’s causing your duck to wag its tail and pant simultaneously and if you notice any other concerning symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian.
On the other hand, a duck owner reported that his duck is usually panting instead of quacking simply because it adopted the sounds it hears daily! As per this veterinarian, his duck Aflac pants like a dog and doesn’t seem to know it’s a duck!