Ducks are ancient creatures. True originals, ducks practice habitual lifestyles that have been essential to their evolutionary success for millions of years. There are more than 120 different species of ducks—many with delightful names like “Buffleheads,” “Shovelers,” and “Woodies” that embody their charming personalities and curious mannerisms. Despite the glorious display of their iridescent feathers, these webbed-footed waterfowl maintain a reputation for being clumsy and awkward. But in reality they are surprisingly athletic birds; some have been clocked flying almost 100 mph, allowing them to outpace eagles and hawks. Ducks have an uncanny knack for survival, and their exuberant behavior never ceases to entertain. Take to the skies with a flock of green-winged Teal. Watch Wood ducks raise a family. Learn why Goldeneyes head north in the winter. Each bird is unique, full of surprises, and will leave you eager to learn more.
S31 Ep4
An Original DUCKumentary
Masters of the water and air, they have conquered the globe. From deft dabblers to great divers, these are one of the Animal Kingdom's ultimate athletes. Take a fascinating look at one of our most familiar birds. An Original DUCKumentary airs November 27 at 9/8c (check local listings).
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TRANSCRIPT
Narrator: WE'VE KNOWN THEM FROM CHILDHOOD... CHARMING, FUNNY BIRDS THAT FLOAT IN THE TUB.
BUT DUCKS ARE FULL OF SURPRISES.
OLDER THAN WHALES, THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST CREATURES TO RETURN FROM LAND TO THE SEA.
SUPREMELY ADAPTABLE, THEY HAVE CONQUERED EVERY KIND OF WATER.
INTENSELY SOCIAL, THEY HAVE RITUALS THAT REACH BACK MILLIONS OF YEARS.
PROVEN SURVIVORS, THEY'RE A PERFECT BLEND OF WINGS AND WIND AND WATER.
INTRODUCING DUCKS, A COLORFUL CAST OF TRUE ORIGINALS.
Narrator: FOR 32 DAYS, THEY'VE BEEN DEVELOPING, GROWING, TRANSFORMING.
NOW, THEIR TIME HAS COME.
URGENTLY, THEY BEGIN KNOCKING ON THE DOOR TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD... READY TO BREAK THROUGH.
IN THEIR FIRST MOMENTS OF LIFE, YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY ARE ANCIENT CREATURES.
THERE ARE SHADES OF DINOSAUR OR MINIATURE DRAGON ABOUT THEM.
BUT AS SOON AS THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DRY AND FLUFF UP A LITTLE, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHAT THEY REALLY ARE -- BRIGHT EYED, DOWNY DUCKLINGS.
EACH EGG WAS LAID A DAY APART, BUT THEY ALL HATCH TOGETHER WITHIN 24 HOURS.
THEY WILL FACE THE WORLD AS A FAMILY.
THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR MOTHER BY HER FAMILIAR VOICE.
SHE'S BEEN SOFTLY COOING TO THEM THROUGH THEIR SHELLS FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
THEY IMPRINT ON HER THE MOMENT THEY SEE HER -- SEALING A BOND THAT'S THE KEY TO THEIR SURVIVAL.
BUT EVEN AS THEY NESTLE INTO HER FEATHERS, A COMBINATION OF EXCITEMENT AND HUNGER MAKES THEM EAGER TO LEAVE THE NEST.
AND AT DAWN THE VERY NEXT MORNING AFTER THEY HATCH, THEIR MOTHER LEAVES AND BEGINS TO CALL TO THEM.
[ CALLING ] SHE'S CALLING THEM OUT OF THE NEST.
THEY DON'T HESITATE.
WITH SMALL, SHARP CLAWS ON THE ENDS OF THEIR WEBBED TOES, THEY CLIMB THE SIDES OF THE NEST.
A DAUNTING REALITY IS WAITING FOR EACH OF THEM.
THEIR SAFE AND COZY HOME IS SOME 70 FEET UP IN THE HOLLOW OF AN OAK TREE.
IT'S JUST THE SECOND DAY OF HER LIFE.
SHE CAN'T FLY.
AT THIS STAGE, SHE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY WINGS TO SPEAK OF.
BUT SHE CAN SEE THE GROUND FAR BELOW... AND HEAR HER MOTHER'S CALLS.
[ DUCK CALLING ] MAYBE COURAGE COMES FROM NECESSITY... MAYBE IT COMES IN KNOWING FROM BIRTH EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.
SHE WEIGHS LESS THAN AN OUNCE, AND LANDS SOFTLY AND SAFELY IN THE LEAF LITTER BELOW.
AND ONE BY ONE, DUCKLINGS RAIN DOWN FROM THE TALL OAK TREE.
THE SIBLINGS RALLY TOGETHER ON THE FOREST FLOOR.
[ CALLING ] THEIR MOTHER CONTINUES CALLING FROM THE MIDDLE OF A NEARBY POND, AND WITH SINGLE-MINDED PURPOSE AND SURPRISING SPEED, HER BROOD SETS OFF TOWARDS HER.
THE TINY DUCKLINGS ARE UNSTOPPABLE.
JUST AHEAD LIES THE WORLD THEY WERE MADE FOR.
AND THEY TAKE TO THE POND LIKE... WELL, DUCKS TO WATER.
OUT ON THE POND, A VISION AWAITS THEM.
RESPLENDENT IN FEATHERS OF GREEN AND CHESTNUT, ORNATELY PATTERNED AND TRIMMED IN WHITE, WITH BILL AND EYES OF BLAZING RED.
THE DUCKLINGS' PARENTS ARE NORTH AMERICAN WOOD DUCKS, DAZZLING MEMBERS OF A REMARKABLE GROUP OF WATERFOWL.
DUCKS ARE COMPLEX CHARACTERS... FASCINATING AND FUNNY... SOPHISTICATED... AND SILLY.
MUCH OF THEIR LIVES WE NEVER SEE, YET THEY SEEM AS FAMILIAR AS A NURSERY RHYME.
THERE ARE PINTAILS AND BUFFLEHEADS, EIDERS, WIDGEONS, CANVASBACKS, AND GREEN-WINGED TEALS.
MORE THAN 120 DIFFERENT SPECIES IN ALL.
ON THE LAND THEY WADDLE.
A COMICAL COMBO OF STOUT BODIES, SHORT LEGS, WEBBED FEET, AND A QUACK.
[ QUACKING ] BUT IN THE WATER, THEY GLIDE, EACH ONE A SEA-WORTHY LITTLE SHIP IN WATERTIGHT FEATHERS.
IN THE AIR, DUCKS ARE POWERFUL FLYERS.
WINGING THEIR WAY ACROSS CONTINENTS, SOME TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF MILES IN A SINGLE YEAR.
BUT NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE HEADED, ALL DUCKS COME HOME TO WATER.
IT'S IN WATER THAT THEY MAKE A LIVING.
OUR WOOD DUCKLINGS WERE BORN KNOWING THIS.
NO PARENT PROVIDES FOR THEM.
THEY START FEEDING ALL ON THEIR OWN THE MINUTE THEY ENTER THE WATER.
THEIR POND IN SPRING IS BRIMMING WITH GOOD THINGS TO EAT.
TINY CRUSTACEANS AND THE LARVAE OF AQUATIC INSECTS CLOUD THE WATER, TURNING THE POND INTO A VERITABLE DUCK SOUP.
ALTHOUGH WOOD DUCKS DINE ON MANY PLANTS, LITTLE WOODIES NEED MORE PROTEIN IN THEIR FIRST WEEKS OF LIFE WHILE THEY'RE BUILDING THEIR BODIES.
THEY SIFT THROUGH THE GOOEY PONDWEED, HARVESTING TINY INVERTEBRATES FROM THE GREENERY.
THEIR MOTHER IS NEVER FAR AWAY.
BUT THEY DON'T NEED HER TO TEACH THEM THE ROPES -- THEY NEED HER TO PROTECT THEM.
FOR, LIKE ALL DUCKLINGS, THE WOODIES HAVE ENTERED THE FOOD CHAIN SMACK IN THE MIDDLE.
THEIR POND MAY BE SMALL, BUT IT'S COMPLETE.
HAWKS, FOXES, EVEN NEIGHBORHOOD CATS TAKE A TERRIBLE TOLL ON LITTLE DUCKLINGS.
LARGE MOUTHED BASS AND HUNGRY SNAPPING TURTLES LURK IN THE MURKY WATERS.
IN SOME YEARS, 9 OUT OF 10 WOOD DUCKLINGS FALL TO PREDATORS WITHIN THEIR FIRST TWO WEEKS.
AND THEY ARE VULNERABLE EVEN WHEN FULL GROWN.
THOUGH THE DUCKLINGS MAY LOOK UP TO THEIR PARENTS, THE ADULTS ARE ONLY SIX OR SEVEN INCHES TALL AND WEIGH ONLY ABOUT A POUND AND A HALF.
CANADA GEESE TOWER OVER THEM.
[ GEESE HONKING ] SO FAR THIS SEASON, OUR WOOD DUCK FAMILY HAS BEEN LUCKY.
THEIR POND HAS BEEN A REMARKABLY SAFE PLACE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MOTHER SHEPHERDS HER BROOD TO A SECLUDED SPOT THAT OFFERS COVER AND PROTECTION.
A MALE WOOD DUCKS TAKES NO PART IN RAISING THE FAMILY.
HE WILL REST AFLOAT IN THE CENTER OF THE POND... OR, TRUE TO HIS NAME, FLY UP INTO THE SAFETY OF THE TREES TO ROOST FOR THE NIGHT.
A DUCK'S IDENTITY LIES IN MORE THAN ITS NAME.
IT ALL STARTS WITH HOW AND WHERE IT EATS.
THERE'S THE WATER'S SURFACE, WHERE 'DABBLERS' FLOAT ALONG... SCOOPING UP ALL KINDS OF PLANTS AND CREATURES THAT CONVENIENTLY COLLECT AND GROW THERE.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ] BUT THERE'S OFTEN SOMETHING WORTH EATING A LITTLE BIT DEEPER... AND WITH HEAD DOWN AND BOTTOMS UP, THEY CAN JUST REACH IT.
OTHER DUCKS GO DEEPER.
THEY'RE 'DIVERS,' FINDING FOOD ALONG ROCKY AND SANDY FLOORS THAT DABBLING DUCKS CAN'T REACH.
UP AND DOWN THEY GO, BRINGING UP THE DAILY CATCH.
OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO WANTS IT BOTH WAYS.
BUFFLEHEADS ARE DIVING DUCKS, BUT THIS LITTLE FEMALE HAS SPIED SOMETHING DELICIOUS JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE.
SHE'S NOT GOOD AT DABBLING, BUT SHE CAN'T RESIST.
SHE GETS NO POINTS FOR STYLE, BUT SHE DOES GET HER PRIZE.
DUCKLINGS KNOW IF THEY ARE DIVERS OR DABBLERS RIGHT FROM THE START.
AND THESE LITTLE RUDDY DUCKS WERE BORN TO DIVE -- JUST LIKE THEIR DAD.
THE DUCKLINGS USE THEIR ENORMOUS FEET TO PROPEL THEM DOWN.
IT MAY BE SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE LITTLE RUDDIES TAKE TO THE AIR... BUT IN WATER, THEY ALREADY SEEM TO FLY.
GROWING UP TO BE JUST LIKE THEIR PARENTS IS TRICKIER FOR OTHER CHICKS.
THIS DEVOTED MOTHER AND HER BRIGHT YELLOW DUCKLINGS ARE ACTUALLY NOT RELATED AT ALL.
SHE'S A FEMALE LESSER SCAUP, AND ON CLOSE INSPECTION, THE LITTLE YELLOW CHICKS ARE REDHEAD DUCKLINGS.
THEY WILL DEVELOP INTO ADULTS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS.
REDHEAD FEMALES MAKE A PRACTICE OF LAYING SOME EGGS IN ANOTHER DUCK'S NEST, LEAVING THE RAISING AND PROTECTING OF THE HATCHLINGS TO SOMEONE ELSE.
THE DUCKLINGS IMPRINT ON THEIR FOSTER MOTHER, AND SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO NOTICE THAT THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
THE YELLOW CHICKS TAG ALONG WITH THE DARK SCAUP CHICKS IN ONE BIG BLENDED FAMILY.
BUT WHEN THE ADOPTED CHICKS GROW UP, THEY IN TURN WILL LAY EGGS IN ANOTHER DUCK'S NEST.
IT'S A HEDGE AGAINST BAD LUCK, AND SHOULD A PREDATOR RAID THEIR OWN NESTS, HAVING SOME EGGS 'IN ANOTHER BASKET' IS A PRETTY GOOD BACKUP PLAN.
OF ALL THE THINGS THAT SHAPE A DUCK'S CHARACTER, WATER IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL.
FROM HIGH ENERGY WATERS LIKE THIS COMES A VERY DIFFERENT DUCK.
TORRENT DUCKS REVEL IN THE TUMULTUOUS MOUNTAIN RIVERS OF THE ANDES IN SOUTH AMERICA.
THEY'RE THE WHITEWATER ADRENALINE JUNKIES OF THE DUCK WORLD, FEARLESSLY LEAPING INTO THE FASTEST WATER THEY CAN FIND.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM IS DESIGNED FOR THIS, FROM THEIR EXTRA THICK RUBBERY FEET, TO THEIR LONG, STIFF, RUDDER-LIKE TAIL.
THIS COLD, CLEAR WATER, HOWEVER, IS NOT RICH IN FOOD, SO EACH PAIR OF TORRENTS STAKES OUT A STRETCH OF RIVER AND DEFENDS IT FOR ALL THEY'RE WORTH.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE VERY FEW DUCKS TO REQUIRE THEIR OWN TERRITORIES.
IT'S ALL ABOUT SECURING ENOUGH FOOD TO RAISE A FAMILY, AND TO TAKE CARE OF HERS, THE ORANGE-BREASTED FEMALE SETS OFF ON A SURPRISING CLIMB.
SHE'S SITTING ON EGGS ON A CLIFFHANGER OF A NEST.
IT'S A HOME MADE OF MOSS COVERED WITH A QUILT OF DOWN.
AND IT'S PERCHED SOME 60 FEET ABOVE THE RIVER.
LONG BEFORE THEY'RE BORN, TORRENT DUCKLINGS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THE CONSTANT ROAR OF WHITEWATER.
THEIR FATHER, IN STRIKING BLACK AND WHITE PLUMAGE, REMAINS ON PATROL, WATCHING OVER THEIR TERRITORY.
THE DUCKLINGS ARE STRONG SWIMMERS FROM THE GET-GO.
THESE ROUGH WATERS ARE THEIR WORLD, AND THEY'RE BORN READY FOR IT.
THE WOODIES TAKE THEIR MORNING SWIM IN MUCH CALMER WATERS.
DUCKLINGS GROW UP FAST, AND OURS HAVE ALREADY TURNED INTO TEENAGERS.
THEY STILL HANG OUT TOGETHER, ABSORBED WITH TAKING CARE OF THEIR SLEEK NEW FEATHERS.
THEY WON'T NEED THEIR MOTHER MUCH LONGER.
THE YOUNG WOODIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A MOMENTOUS STEP, ONE THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
THEY HAVE FINALLY LEARNED HOW TO FLY.
GETTING UP INTO THE AIR IS A COMPLICATED EXERCISE, ESPECIALLY FOR DUCKS.
THEY HAVE RELATIVELY SMALL AND POINTY WINGS, AND TWO VERY DIFFERENT FLIGHT PLANS.
SURFACE DABBLING DUCKS, WITH SMALL, LIGHT BODIES, CAN RISE STRAIGHT UP, ASCENDING ALMOST VERTICALLY INTO THE AIR.
HEAVIER BODIED DIVING DUCKS NEED A LONG WATERY RUNWAY TO GET ENOUGH LIFT TO TAKE OFF... AND IT TAKES A LOT OF FLAPPING TO GET A CHUBBY LITTLE BUFFLEHEAD AIRBORNE.
ONCE IN THE AIR, DUCKS MAINTAIN A FAST PACE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE WINGS FOR SOARING.
A BALD EAGLE LOOKS EFFORTLESS ALONGSIDE HARDWORKING PINTAILS.
BUT EVEN FOR AN EAGLE, DUCKS ARE HARD TO KEEP UP WITH.
GIVEN THEIR BODY-TO-WING RATIO, DUCKS NEED TO FLY AT HIGH SPEEDS TO FLY AT ALL.
REMARKABLY, DELICATE LITTLE GREEN-WINGED TEALS HAVE BEEN CLOCKED AT ALMOST 100 MILES AN HOUR.
BY MID-SUMMER, IN DUCK WATERS EVERYWHERE, ALL THE DUCKS HAVE VANISHED.
[ QUACKING ] BUT THEY HAVEN'T FLOWN AWAY.
[ DUCKS QUACKING ] YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND OF 10,000 DUCKS CHATTING ACROSS THE EMPTY WATER.
THEY'RE HIDING... RELYING ON THE TALL REEDS FOR COVER.
ALL BIRDS GO THROUGH MOLT, REPLACING WORN AND TATTERED FEATHERS WITH NEW ONES.
USUALLY, THEY REPLACE FLIGHT FEATHERS ONE AT A TIME SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO FLY.
BUT, IN A BOLD MOVE, DUCKS DROP ALL THEIR FLIGHT FEATHERS AT ONCE.
THEY ARE TEMPORARILY GROUNDED.
SURROUNDED BY PLENTY TO EAT, THEY DON'T NEED TO TAKE TO THE AIR.
YET FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, WITH NO WAY TO FLY FROM DANGER, THEY ARE ALL 'SITTING DUCKS.'
[ QUACKING ] BY LATE SUMMER, WHEN THE MOLT IS OVER, ALL THE DAMAGED, WORN OUT FEATHERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH STRONG, FLEXIBLE NEW ONES.
AND THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL -- INTRICATELY PATTERNED AND SHIMMERING WITH COLOR.
SOME FEATHERS ARE RICH IN DARK PIGMENTS THAT HELP MAKE THEM STRONG AND RESISTANT TO WEAR AND TEAR.
BUT THE MOST DAZZLING HUES COME FROM TINY CRYSTALS IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE FEATHER THAT SCATTER LIGHT IN SPECIFIC WAYS.
IT'S NATURE'S NANOTECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES THE IRIDESCENT PURPLES AND BLUES, AND THE BRILLIANT GREENS, THAT MANY DUCKS SEEM TO FAVOR.
STAYING BRIGHT AND SHINY USUALLY STARTS WITH A BATH.
THERE'S DUST AND DIRT AND PARASITES TO DEAL WITH.
EVERY FEATHER MUST BE COMBED OUT NICE AND FLAT... AND THEN WATERPROOFED.
FROM A GLAND AT THE BASE OF THE TAIL, DUCKS SPREAD A WAXY OINTMENT ALL OVER THEIR PLUMAGE.
THE WHOLE ROUTINE TAKES HOURS OF NIBBLING AND STROKING, AND ATHLETIC CONTORTIONS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.
IT ALL CONCLUDES WITH A SATISFYING STRETCH, WITH EVERY FEATHER BACK IN PLACE.
BY THE END OF SUMMER, A YOUNG WOOD DUCK IS SHOWING THE FIRST SIGNS OF HIS TRUE COLORS.
HE'S ON HIS WAY TO BEING A BEAUTIFULLY FEATHERED MALE, BUT IT WILL BE ANOTHER YEAR YET BEFORE HE'LL BE READY TO PUT HIS PLUMAGE TO THE TEST.
IN THE GOLDEN LIGHT OF OCTOBER, WITH IRIDESCENT FEATHERS AT THEIR BEST, WOOD DUCKS GO COURTING.
WOOD DUCKS PAIR UP MONTHS BEFORE THE BREEDING SEASON.
THEY GATHER IN LITTLE GROUPS OF THEIR OWN.
[ SHRILL SQUAWKING ] MALES TO SHOW OFF AND OUTDO EACH OTHER... AND FEMALES TO PICK A NEW PARTNER.
WOOD DUCK FIDELITY ONLY LASTS A SINGLE SEASON.
BUT ONCE THEY HAVE BECOME A COUPLE, THEY WILL SPEND THE WINTER PERFECTING THEIR BOND.
THE YOUNG MALE IS EAGER TO BE NOTICED.
HE ATTEMPTS TO CHAT UP SOME FEMALES...
