What do Ducks Eat?

Whether you're a hunter looking to up your game or just curious about what fuels these incredible waterfowl species, getting a handle on their eating habits adds a whole new layer to understanding the waterfowl world.

Understanding Waterfowl Feeding Habits

"Often, you will find a variety of species on the same body of water. However, they are simultaneously exploiting different parts of the wetland," Delta Waterfowl Program Director and Biologist Matt Chouinard said.

Waterfowl feeding behaviors are closely linked to their nutritional needs, which support energy levels for daily activities, breeding, molting, and long-distance migration. A waterfowl's diet can also influence its behavior. For instance, birds will often alter their feeding locations and habits based on food availability, water levels, and weather conditions. Understanding these dietary needs helps conservationists properly manage habitats.

"There is so much overlap when it comes to diet; ducks can be opportunists. It’s not uncommon to find a puddle duck that consumed animal matter," Chouinard told MeatEater.

Diet is fundamental to the overall health and survival of waterfowl species. Nutrient-rich foods support proper body condition, which is essential for breeding success and surviving harsh weather conditions. During migration, high-energy foods like seeds and invertebrates are vital, as they provide the fuel needed for long flights.

Puddle Ducks vs. Diver Ducks

Generally, ducks are categorized into two primary types: puddle ducks and diver ducks. Each group has distinct adaptations that set them apart. These adaptations play a particular role in their dietary feeding habits and preferences.

Understanding dietary differences is essential for hunters and conservationists, as it informs hunting strategies, conservation practices, and efforts to support waterfowl health. As habitats and food sources face ongoing threats, it is important for hunters to support conservation efforts and continue learning about the species they pursue.

Puddle Ducks: Shallow-Water Dabblers

Puddle Ducks, also known as dabblers, are characterized by their unique dabbling behavior. They tip forward, submerging their heads while keeping their tails in the air to reach food sources near the surface.

Puddle ducks feed primarily in shallow waters, marshes, and flooded fields. "They consume mostly plant matter and seeds. Their main adaptations are forward feet and larger wings," Chouinard explained.

Species like mallards, teal, and pintails are classic examples of dabblers. These ducks are highly maneuverable in flight and often feed on both land and water. Their ability to thrive in shallow, food-rich environments makes puddle ducks some of the most versatile and widespread waterfowl species in North America.

"During spring and summer, waterfowl focus on high-protein foods like plant matter, insects, and small crustaceans to fuel breeding and rearing young. As fall and winter approach, puddle ducks shift gears, loading up on 'hot foods'—carb-rich seeds, grains, and aquatic plants to build fat reserves for migration and the cold," Chouinard said.

Diver Ducks: Deep-Water Foragers

Divers, or diving ducks, are known for their unique deep-water hunting dives and distinctive physical traits. Unlike puddle ducks, diver ducks are built for underwater hunting. Their feeding technique is more specialized, requiring them to dive and chase down their food. “Diver ducks’ legs are positioned further back on their bodies; they have larger feet and smaller wings,” Chouinard said.

Because of these adaptations, divers typically take longer to get up off the water into flight than dabbling ducks. However, these adaptations provide powerful propulsion during dives. They dive below the water’s surface, often submerging for several seconds to chase and capture their prey. Using their powerful legs and webbed feet, they can maneuver with speed and precision underwater, accessing food sources that are unreachable to surface feeders.

Chouinard pointed out that they dive efficiently to significant depths from one to 10 feet in search of food. Common species of diver ducks include canvasbacks, redheads, scaup, and ring-necked ducks. These ducks are often found in larger bodies of water, such as deep lakes, bays, and coastal regions, where their specialized feeding behavior can be fully utilized.

Diver ducks have a varied diet that typically includes animal matter, such as fish, snails, insects, crustaceans, and some aquatic vegetation. “As the seasons change, they may incorporate more plant-based foods such as pondweeds and aquatic grasses, especially when animal prey becomes scarce; this is when we start to see that overlap,” Chouinard said.

Impact on Hunting Strategies

Knowing what ducks eat isn’t just for trivia. Hunters should strive to be citizen scientists—for the sake of conservation and bringing home ducks for dinner. Understanding waterfowl behavior and diets can significantly improve your strategy in the field.

“Typically sticking to shallow waters, you’ll have better luck camouflaged in swampy marshes or setting up on shallow ponds and in flooded timber or fields. Puddle duck silhouettes sit higher on the water. Use motion decoys that display their active feeding and calls that mimic their soft, dabbling sounds,” Jeremiah Driscoll of Comanche County Ducks Unlimited recommended.

In contrast, Driscoll noted, "divers do not react to decoys like puddlers. You’ll need a larger spread to attract birds from a distance, replicating the large rafts of ducks that congregate during migration. Diver duck hunting is a visual game; while these birds aren’t very vocal, calling can help in uncertain situations.” By dialing into the feeding habits and habitats of different ducks, you can fine-tune your setup and boost your odds in the blind.

Feature image via Adobe Stock.