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Have you ever wondered what ducks love eating the most? It’s aquatic vegetation without a doubt.
The aquatic plants can be seen above the water but most of the species remain under the water.
Aquatic plants and insects are the two reasons why ducks dive in the water. The other major reason happens to be; relaxing their muscles.
A duck diving in water is not astonishing. However, the duck being unable to breathe underwater is more surprising. Learn When Do Ducks Molt?
Does it raise a million questions like if they can not breathe underwater how do they dive? Why don’t they eat something else? Why do they risk their lives? Well, the answer to all the questions is “They hold their breath underwater”
How Long Can Ducks Hold their Breath?
Most duck breeds can hold their breath for up to 50 seconds. Whereas, a few are only capable of doing that for about 20 to 30 minutes.
There may not be any duck breed that can hold their breath more than the said duration.
Breath in water
Frankly, it does not matter wherever these waterfowls hold their breath. The exceptional duck breeds that can go up to 50 seconds would keep holding the breath in for a good 50 seconds.
Whereas the breeds that hardly hold their breath in for 20 to 30 seconds survive up to 30 seconds. It’s just not the case that ducks can hold their breath for a longer time in the water.
The diver’s duck case is a bit different, they can hold their breath up to a minute or so;
It’s the dabbler duck who can hold its breath for 20 or 50 seconds. The diver’s duck is the case is different.
They fill their lungs with oxygen sufficient for a minute or so. As they have sufficient oxygen to be distributed to the parts of the body for a minute, they can hold their breath up to a minute.
For their ability to dive longer, they usually keep their head buried in for a good 30 to 40 seconds. Whereas, the dabblers may never be able to do so. Related Why Do Ducks Wag Their Tails?
Barrows Goldeneye, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Canvasback, Common Eider, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Hooded Merganser, King Eider, Lesser Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Readhead, Ring-necked Duck, Spectacled Eider, Stellers Eider, Surf Scoter, and White-winged Scoter are the few examples of the diver’s duck who can hold their breath up to a minute.
All claims are false
Several female ducks die in the breeding season. It is because the male ducks keep buried their head down in the water for longer than 50 seconds.
However, still, most of us believe that ducks can hold up to 50 minutes. That’s not true at all. No duck breed can go this long without breathing. So, all those claims are false.
Ducks do not dive in the water for more than 10 seconds
Ducks dive underwater quite often but they hardly stay there for about 10 seconds. As most of the duck breeds do not hold their breath for more than 20 seconds.
If they could hold up their breath for 50 minutes, they would have been taking more time finding and eating aquatic plants underwater.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can stay ducks underwater holding their breath?
The ducks are divided into two categories; divers and dabblers. The diver ducks can stay underwater for about 40 seconds whereas, the dabblers can only hold their breath underwater for 10 to 20 seconds.
Can ducks hold their breath up to 50 minutes?
No, ducks can not hold their breath up to 50 minutes at all. The diver ducks that are known for diving longer can not hold their breath up to 50 minutes. If diver ducks can not hold breath for more than a minute, how would dabblers do so?
Can ducks breathe underwater?
No, ducks can not breathe underwater at all. They fill their lungs and keep distributing it to their parts of the body for 10 to 50 seconds. If they could hold their breath underwater, they would have been living most of their life underwater.
