How Long Can Ducks Stay Underwater?

Ducks are most often associated with water. It makes sense, as they are waterfowl.

But ducks don’t just spend time on the surface. They also dive into the water. They do this to gather food.

Ducks can either be dabbling or diving ducks, and the two different types dive in different ways.

In this article, we’ll talk about how ducks dive, why they dive, and how long they can stay underwater.

What Kind of Ducks Dive Underwater?

Ducks are split into two groups^[1]:

• Diving ducks
• Dabbling ducks

As you can probably hear by their names, diving ducks dive into the water^[2], while dabbling ducks “dabble” when they eat (tip upside down).

Since the two different types forage in different ways, they can also hold their breath for a different amount of time, but more on that later.

Common diving ducks include:

• Bufflehead
• Common  goldeneye
• Hooded and Red-breasted Merganser
• Greater and Lesser Scaup

Common dabbling ducks include:

• Mallard
• Muscovy
• American black ducks
• Blue-winged teals

How Long Can Ducks Stay Underwater?

All ducks can stay underwater for at least 10 seconds^[2], though some can spend much longer underwater.

Different ducks can stay underwater for different amounts of types. This comes down to their species, as well as their type.

The average dive is about 12 seconds, but diving ducks can typically hold their breath for up to a minute.

Some species dive 5 to 60 feet (1.5 to 18 meters) or more to feed plants or mollusks on the bottom of ponds and lakes. 

Some species of diving ducks have been observed to remain underwater for as long as 90 seconds.

How Long Can Ducks Hold Their Breath?

The average duck can hold its breath for 25 seconds, but some ducks can hold their breath for up to a minute.

Dabbling ducks, who tip upside down to stick their head into the water, typically holds their breath for 10 to 15 seconds when doing so.

How Can Ducks Stay Underwater for So Long?

Ducks are great at staying underwater for a long period of time. They can deal with cold, they can contain a lot of oxygen, and they’re efficient at distributing it. 

Some ducks also reduce how much oxygen they use when they dive underwater.

Cold Resistance

Ducks are very hardy. They can withstand very cold temperatures due to their feathers. Their outer feathers, contour feathers, help them withstand rain and wind, while their semiplume feathers help them conserve heat (these are feathers underneath the contour feathers).

They can hold a lot of oxygen

Ducks can take in a lot of oxygen. They have specialized air sacs specifically to help them hold their breath. They can also use this air sac to keep them buoyant.

When they dive, they also distribute their oxygen efficiently, effectively lowering their oxygen use.^[3]

Can a Duck Breathe Underwater?

Ducks are expert divers for many reasons. Their well-adapted anatomy allows them to be perfectly at home in the water, where they are safe from most predators.

There is a common misconception that ducks can breathe underwater. This is not true! Ducks can stay underwater for a long time simply by holding their breath.

However, it does depend on how you define “breathe”. Ducks don’t breathe in new oxygen when underwater because they can’t extract oxygen from water, but they do make use of oxygen they’ve stored up.

Ducks have air sacs, which help them store more oxygen. This allows them to be underwater for longer.^[4]

Can a Duck Drown?

People are under the assumption that ducks can’t drown because they float, but this isn’t exactly true. Ducks can drown just like any other animal or person. It’s seen most often with baby ducks, who haven’t learned how to swim yet.

Adult ducks typically don’t drow though, unless they’re forced under the water. This is seen from time to time during mating.

Related: How do ducks float?

How Deep Can a Duck Dive?

The diving depth of ducks again depends on their type.

Dabbling ducks don’t dive very far down, as they just stick their head into the water. This is another story for diving ducks though.

As diving ducks dive underwater with their entire body, they can reach far down, as much as 60 feet, sometimes even more.

Ducks primarily feed on plant matter found in ponds and lakes. This is why they dive. Sometimes, they need to dive far down to find any food.

Conclusion

Ducks can stay underwater for up to 10 to 60 seconds. They can do this due to natural adaptations such as their well-adjusted oxygen consumption, air sacs that hold oxygen, and very high cold resistance.

All ducks dive, but some ducks dive deeper than others. Dabbling ducks only put their heads into the water, while diving ducks submerge their entire body into the water.