Ducks & cat

This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics.

This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics.

This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics.

At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classes. Instead of the traditional championship model, the UFC held tournaments with the winner receiving a permanent appellation.[2] In response to criticism from Senator John McCain that saw the loss of its television deal and the banning of the sport in thirty-six states, the UFC increased its cooperation with state athletic commissions and introduced weight classes in 1997, starting with UFC 12, and began introducing weight-specific titles.[3] The original codification for weight classes introduced only two divisions: heavyweight, which grouped together all competitors above 200 pounds (91 kg), and lightweight, which encompassed all competitors 199 pounds (90 kg) and under. At UFC 14 the lightweight division would be renamed to middleweight, though it would still encompass all fighters 199 pounds (90 kg) and under.[4] The lightweight moniker would later return at UFC 16 with a new division consisting of those competitors 170 pounds (77 kg) and under.[5] Two years later a fourth weight class, the bantamweight division, arrived at UFC 26 and included all fighters 155 pounds (70 kg) and under.[4] In 2000, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board completely took over MMA regulation in its home state and developed new rules and weight classes that eventually became the de facto rule set for all mixed martial arts.[6] The UFC realigned their weight classes to comply with these new regulations in 2001, beginning with UFC 31.[7] At the time, this brought the total number of active divisions in the UFC to five: lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. It would be nearly ten years before the UFC would expand their divisional offerings to include any of the lower weight classes. The first additions came in late 2010 when the UFC merged with their sister organization World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). Due to the WEC's focus on lighter weight fighters, this merger necessitated the addition of both the featherweight and bantamweight divisions to the UFC, starting with The Ultimate Fighter season 12 finale.[8] In early 2012 the UFC decided they would delve even further into the lower weight classes when they announced the introduction of the flyweight division to their ranks, beginning with UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann.[9] In November 2012, as a result of the forthcoming dissolution of their sister organization Strikeforce, the UFC announced they would be adding female fighters to their roster for the first time in the promotion's history. Initially, only the women's bantamweight division was brought over, with the division's premiere bout taking place at UFC 157.[10] A little over a year later, the UFC announced they would be expanding their weight classes for female fighters with the addition of a women's strawweight division,[11] the first bout took place at UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Miller.[12] In late 2016, a featherweight division was introduced for the women with the first bout to be for the inaugural championship at UFC 208 on February 11, 2017. In that same year the UFC announced the Women's Flyweight division would officially be added, with the winner of the 26th season of The Ultimate Fighter to be named the inaugural champion. Current champions Edit [13] Men Edit Division Champion Since Defenses Heavyweight Francis Ngannou Mar 27, 2021 1 Light Heavyweight Glover Teixeira Oct 30, 2021 0 Middleweight Israel Adesanya Oct 6, 2019 4 Welterweight Kamaru Usman Mar 2, 2019 5 Lightweight Charles Oliveira May 15, 2021 1 Featherweight Alexander Volkanovski Dec 14, 2019 2 Bantamweight Aljamain Sterling Mar 6, 2021 0 Petr Yan (interim) Oct 30, 2021 0 Flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo Jan 22, 2022 0 Women Edit Division Champion Since Defenses Featherweight Amanda Nunes Dec 29, 2018 2 Bantamweight Julianna Peña Dec 11, 2021 0 Flyweight Valentina Shevchenko Dec 8, 2018 6 Strawweight Rose Namajunas Apr 24, 2021 1 Men's championship history Edit Heavyweight Championship Edit 206 to 265 lb (93 to 120 kg) The UFC Superfight Championship was unified with the UFC Tournament Championship to determine the inaugural UFC Heavyweight Champion on February 7, 1997, when Mark Coleman defeated Dan Severn at UFC 12.[4] No. Name Event Date Reign (total) Defenses 1 Mark Coleman def. Dan Severn UFC 12 Dothan, AL, US Feb 7, 1997 170 days 2 Maurice Smith UFC 14 Birmingham, AL, US Jul 27, 1997 147 days 1. def. Tank Abbott at UFC 15 on Oct 17, 1997 3 Randy Couture UFC Japan Yokohama, Japan Dec 21, 1997 ? days Couture was stripped of the title in January 1998, when he left the UFC due to a contract dispute. 4 Bas Rutten def. Kevin Randleman UFC 20 Birmingham, AL, US May 7, 1999 ? days Rutten vacated the title in June 1999 in order to drop down to Light Heavyweight. He retired soon after due to training injuries.[14] 5 Kevin Randleman def. Pete Williams UFC 23 Tokyo, Japan Nov 19, 1999 364 days 1. def. Pedro Rizzo at UFC 26 on Jun 9, 2000 6 Randy Couture (2) UFC 28 Atlantic City, NJ, US Nov 17, 2000 490 days (490+ days) 1. def. Pedro Rizzo at UFC 31 on May 4, 2001 2. 2. def. Pedro Rizzo at UFC 34 on Nov 2, 2001 7 Josh Barnett UFC 36 Las Vegas, NV, US Mar 22, 2002 126 days Barnett was stripped of the title on July 26, 2002, after testing positive for anabolic steroids in a post-fight drug test.[15] 8 Ricco Rodriguez def. Randy Couture UFC 39 Uncasville, CT, US Sep 27, 2002 154 days 9 Tim Sylvia UFC 41 Atlantic City, NJ, US Feb 28, 2003 229 days 1. def. Gan McGee at UFC 44 on Sep 26, 2003 Sylvia was stripped of the title on October 15, 2003, after testing positive for anabolic steroids in a post-fight drug test.[16] 10 Frank Mir def. Tim Sylvia UFC 48 Las Vegas, NV, US Jun 19, 2004 419 days — Andrei Arlovski def. Tim Sylvia for interim title UFC 51 Las Vegas, NV, US Feb 5, 2005 — 1. def. Justin Eilers at UFC 53 on Jun 4, 2005 Mir was stripped of the title on August 12, 2005, for inactivity resulting from injuries he sustained in a road accident.[17] 11 Andrei Arlovski promoted to undisputed champion — Aug 12, 2005 246 days 1. def. Paul Buentello at UFC 55 on Oct 7, 2005 12 Tim Sylvia (2) UFC 59 Anaheim, CA, US Apr 15, 2006 322 days (551 days) 1. def. Andrei Arlovski at UFC 61 on Jul 8, 2006 2. 2. def. Jeff Monson at UFC 65 on Nov 18, 2006 13 Randy Couture (3) UFC 68 Columbus, OH, US Mar 3, 2007 623 days (1,113+ days) 1. def. Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 74 on Aug 25, 2007 — Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Tim Sylvia for interim title UFC 81 Las Vegas, NV, US Feb 2, 2008 — 14 Brock Lesnar UFC 91 Las Vegas, NV, US Nov 15, 2008 707 days 1. def. interim champion Frank Mir at UFC 100 on Jul 11, 2009 2. 2. def. interim champion Shane Carwin at UFC 116 on Jul 3, 2010 — Frank Mir def. interim champion Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira UFC 92 Las Vegas, NV, US Dec 27, 2008 — — Shane Carwin def. Frank Mir for interim title UFC 111 Newark, NJ, US Mar 27, 2010 — 15 Cain Velasquez UFC 121 Anaheim, CA, US Oct 23, 2010 385 days 16 Junior dos Santos UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos Anaheim, CA, US Nov 12, 2011 413 days 1. def. Frank Mir at UFC 146 on May 26, 2012 17 Cain Velasquez (2) UFC 155 Las Vegas, NV, US Dec 29, 2012 896 days (1,281 days) 1. def. Antônio Silva at UFC 160 on May 25, 2013 2. 2. def. Junior dos Santos at UFC 166 on Oct 19, 2013 — Fabrício Werdum def. Mark Hunt for interim title UFC 180 Mexico City, Mexico Nov 15, 2014 — 18 Fabrício Werdum UFC 188 Mexico City, Mexico Jun 13, 2015 336 days 19 Stipe Miocic UFC 198 Curitiba, Brazil May 14, 2016 785 days 1. def. Alistair Overeem at UFC 203 on Sep 10, 2016 2. 2. def. Junior dos Santos at UFC 211 on May 13, 2017 3. 3. def. Francis Ngannou at UFC 220 on Jan 20, 2018 20 Daniel Cormier UFC 226 Las Vegas, NV, US Jul 7, 2018 407 days 1. def. Derrick Lewis at UFC 230 on Nov 3, 2018 21 Stipe Miocic (2) UFC 241 Anaheim, CA, US Aug 17, 2019 589 days (1,374 days) 1. def. Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 on Aug 15, 2020 22 Francis Ngannou UFC 260 Las Vegas, NV, US Mar 27, 2021 323 days (incumbent) 1. def. interim champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 on Jan 22, 2022 — Ciryl Gane def. Derrick Lewis for interim title UFC 265 Houston, TX, US Aug 7, 2021 — Light Heavyweight Championship Edit 186 to 205 lb (84 to 93 kg) The Light Heavyweight Championship was known as the Middleweight Championship prior to UFC 31 (May 4, 2001). The Pride World Middleweight Championship (209.4 lb) was unified with the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on September 8, 2007, when Quinton Jackson defeated Dan Henderson at UFC 75.[4] No. Name Event Date Reign (Total) Defenses 1 Frank Shamrock def. Kevin Jackson UFC Japan Yokohama, Japan Dec 21, 1997 703 days 1. def. Igor Zinoviev at UFC 16 on Mar 13, 1998 2. 2. def. Jeremy Horn at UFC 17 on May 15, 1998 3. 3. def. John Lober at UFC Brazil on Oct 16, 1998 4. 4. def. Tito Ortiz at UFC 22 on Sep 24, 1999 Shamrock vacated the title on November 24, 1999, when he retired from the UFC, citing a lack of competition.[1] 2 Tito Ortiz def. Wanderlei Silva UFC 25 Tokyo, Japan Apr 14, 2000 1,260 days 1. def. Yuki Kondo at UFC 29 on Dec 16, 2000 2. 2. def. Evan Tanner at UFC 30 on Feb 23, 2001 3. 3. def. Elvis Sinosic at UFC 32 on Jun 29, 2001 4. 4. def. Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 33 on Sep 28, 2001 5. 5. def. Ken Shamrock at UFC 40 on Nov 22, 2002 — Randy Couture def. Chuck Liddell for interim title UFC 43 Las Vegas, NV, US Jun 6, 2003 — 3 Randy Couture UFC 44 Las Vegas, NV, US Sep 26, 2003 127 days 4 Vitor Belfort UFC 46 Las Vegas, NV, US Jan 31, 2004 203 days 5 Randy Couture (2) UFC 49 Las Vegas, NV, US Aug 21, 2004 238 days (365 days) 6 Chuck Liddell UFC 52 Las Vegas, NV, US Apr 16, 2005 770 days 1. def. Jeremy Horn at UFC 54 on Aug 20, 2005 2. 2. def. Randy Couture at UFC 57 on Feb 4, 2006 3. 3. def. Renato Sobral at UFC 62 on Aug 26, 2006 4. 4. def. Tito Ortiz at UFC 66 on Dec 30, 2006 7 Quinton Jackson UFC 71 Las Vegas, NV, US May 26, 2007 406 days 1. def. Dan Henderson at UFC 75 on Sep 8, 2007 8 Forrest Griffin UFC 86 Las Vegas, NV, US Jul 5, 2008 175 days 9 Rashad Evans UFC 92 Las Vegas, NV, US Dec 27, 2008 147 days 10 Lyoto Machida UFC 98 Las Vegas, NV, US May 23, 2009 350 days 1. def. Maurício Rua at UFC 104 on Oct 24, 2009 11 Maurício Rua UFC 113 Montreal, QC, Canada May 8, 2010 315 days 12 Jon Jones UFC 128 Newark, NJ, US Mar 19, 2011 1,501 days 1. def. Quinton Jackson at UFC 135 on Sep 24, 2011 2. 2. def. Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Dec 10, 2011 3. 3. def. Rashad Evans at UFC 145 on Apr 21, 2012 4. 4. def. Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 on Sep 22, 2012 5. 5. def. Chael Sonnen at UFC 159 on Apr 27, 2013 6. 6. def. Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 on Sep 21, 2013 7. 7. def. Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 on Apr 26, 2014 8. 8. def. Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 on Jan 3, 2015 Jones was stripped of the title on April 28, 2015, due to his involvement and arrest in a felony hit-and-run.[18] 13 Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson UFC 187 Las Vegas, NV, US May 23, 2015 1,315 days 1. def. Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192 on Oct 3, 2015 2. 2. def. Anthony Johnson at UFC 210 on Apr 8, 2017 3. 3. def. Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220 on Jan 20, 2018 — Jon Jones def. Ovince Saint Preux for interim title UFC 197 Las Vegas, NV, US Apr 23, 2016 — Jones was stripped of the interim title on November 9, 2016, due to his one-year suspension related to a failed pre-fight drug test.[19] Jones won the undisputed title at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017, but was stripped on September 13, 2017, after his win was overturned to a no-contest due to a failed pre-fight drug test. Cormier was then retroactively reinstated as champion.[20] Cormier vacated the title on December 28, 2018, 174 days after winning the heavyweight title.[21] 14 Jon Jones (2) def. Alexander Gustafsson UFC 232 Inglewood, CA, US Dec 29, 2018 597 days (2,098 days) 1. def. Anthony Smith at UFC 235 on Mar 2, 2019 2. 2. def. Thiago Santos at UFC 239 on Jul 6, 2019 3. 3. def. Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 on Feb 8, 2020 Jones vacated the belt on August 17, 2020, citing issues with the UFC over salary negotiation and the desire to compete at heavyweight.[22][23] 15 Jan Błachowicz def. Dominick Reyes UFC 253 Abu Dhabi, UAE Sep 27, 2020 398 days 1. def. Israel Adesanya at UFC 259 on Mar 6, 2021 16 Glover Teixeira UFC 267 Abu Dhabi, UAE Oct 30, 2021 106 days (incumbent) Middleweight Championship Edit 171 to 185 lb (78 to 84 kg) The Pride World Welterweight Championship (183 lb) was unified with the UFC Middleweight Championship on March 1, 2008, when Anderson Silva defeated Dan Henderson at UFC 82.[24] No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses 1 Dave Menne def. Gil Castillo UFC 33 Las Vegas, NV, US Sep 28, 2001 105 days 2 Murilo Bustamante UFC 35 Las Vegas, NV, US Jan 11, 2002 267 days 1. def. Matt Lindland at UFC 37 on May 10, 2002 Bustamante was stripped of the title on October 5, 2002, when he left the UFC for Pride.[1] 3 Evan Tanner def. David Terrell UFC 51 Las Vegas, NV, US Feb 5, 2005 119 days 4 Rich Franklin UFC 53 Atlantic City, NJ, US Jun 4, 2005 497 days 1. def. Nate Quarry at UFC 56 on Nov 19, 2005 2. 2. def. David Loiseau at UFC 58 on Mar 4, 2006 5 Anderson Silva UFC 64 Las Vegas, NV, US Oct 14, 2006 2,457 days 1. def. Nate Marquardt at UFC 73 on Jul 7, 2007 2. 2. def. Rich Franklin at UFC 77 on Oct 20, 2007 3. 3. def. Dan Henderson at UFC 82 on Mar 1, 2008 4. 4. def. Patrick Côté at UFC 90 on Oct 25, 2008 5. 5. def. Thales Leites at UFC 97 on Apr 18, 2009 6. 6. def. Demian Maia at UFC 112 on Apr 10, 2010 7. 7. def. Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 on Aug 7, 2010 8. 8. def. Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 on Feb 5, 2011 9. 9. def. Yushin Okami at UFC 134 on Aug 27, 2011 10. 10. def. Chael Sonnen at UFC 148 on Jul 7, 2012 6 Chris Weidman UFC 162 Las Vegas, NV, US Jul 6, 2013 889 days 1. def. Anderson Silva at UFC 168 on Dec 28, 2013 2. 2. def. Lyoto Machida at UFC 175 on Jul 5, 2014 3. 3. def. Vitor Belfort at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015 7 Luke Rockhold UFC 194 Las Vegas, NV, US Dec 12, 2015 175 days 8 Michael Bisping UFC 199 Inglewood, CA, US Jun 4, 2016 518 days 1. def. Dan Henderson at UFC 204 on Oct 8, 2016 — Robert Whittaker def. Yoel Romero for interim title UFC 213 Las Vegas, NV, US Jul 8, 2017 — 9 Georges St-Pierre UFC 217 New York City, NY, US Nov 4, 2017 33 days St-Pierre vacated the title on December 7, 2017, due to ulcerative colitis.[25][26] 10 Robert Whittaker promoted to undisputed champion — Dec 7, 2017 660 days — Israel Adesanya def. Kelvin Gastelum for interim title UFC 236 Atlanta, GA, US Apr 13, 2019 — 11 Israel Adesanya UFC 243 Melbourne, Australia Oct 6, 2019 861 days (incumbent) 1. def. Yoel Romero at UFC 248 on Mar 7, 2020 2. 2. def. Paulo Costa at UFC 253 on Sep 27, 2020 3. 3. def. Marvin Vettori at UFC 263 on Jun 12, 2021 4. 4. def. Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 on Feb 12, 2022 Welterweight Championship Edit 156 to 170 lb (71 to 77 kg) The Welterweight Championship was known as the Lightweight Championship prior to UFC 31 (May 4, 2001). No. Name Event Date Reign (Total) Defenses 1 Pat Miletich def. Mikey Burnett UFC Brazil São Paulo, Brazil Oct 16, 1998 931 days 1. def. Jorge Patino at UFC 18 on Jan 8, 1999 2. 2. def. André Pederneiras at UFC 21 on Jul 16, 1999 3. 3. def. John Alessio at UFC 26 on Jun 9, 2000 4. 4. def. Kenichi Yamamoto at UFC 29 on Dec 16, 2000 2 Carlos Newton UFC 31 Atlantic City, NJ, US May 4, 2001 183 days 3 Matt Hughes UFC 34 Las Vegas, NV, US Nov 2, 2001 820 days 1. def. Hayato Sakurai at UFC 36 on Mar 22, 2002 2. 2. def. Carlos Newton at UFC 38 on Jul 13, 2002 3. 3. def. Gil Castillo at UFC 40 on Nov 22, 2002 4. 4. def. Sean Sherk at UFC 42 on Apr 25, 2003 5. 5. def. Frank Trigg at UFC 45 on Nov 21, 2003 4 B.J. Penn UFC 46 Las Vegas, NV, US Jan 31, 2004 107 days Penn was stripped of the title on May 17, 2004, when he left the UFC for K-1.[27] 5 Matt Hughes (2) def. Georges St-Pierre UFC 50 Atlantic City, NJ, US Oct 22, 2004 757 days (1,577 days) 1. def. Frank Trigg at UFC 52 on Apr 16, 2005 2. 2. def. B.J. Penn at UFC 63 on Sep 23, 2006 6 Georges St-Pierre UFC 65 Sacramento, CA, US Nov 18, 2006 140 days 7 Matt Serra UFC 69 Houston, TX, US Apr 7, 2007 378 days — Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes for interim title UFC 79 Las Vegas, NV, US Dec 29, 2007 — 8 Georges St-Pierre (2) UFC 83 Montreal, QC, Canada Apr 19, 2008 2,064 days (2,204 days) 1. def. Jon Fitch at UFC 87 on Aug 9, 2008 2. 2. def. B.J. Penn at UFC 94 on Jan 31, 2009 3. 3. def. Thiago Alves at UFC 100 on Jul 11, 2009 4. 4. def. Dan Hardy at UFC 111 on Mar 27, 2010 5. 5. def. Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 on Dec 11, 2010 6. 6. def. Jake Shields at UFC 129 on Apr 30, 2011 7. 7. def. interim champion Carlos Condit at UFC 154 on Nov 17, 2012 8. 8. def. Nick Diaz at UFC 158 on Mar 16, 2013 9. 9. def. Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 on Nov 16, 2013 — Carlos Condit def. Nick Diaz for interim title UFC 143 Las Vegas, NV, US Feb 4, 2012 — St-Pierre vacated the title on December 13, 2013, when he decided to take time off.[28] 9 Johny Hendricks def. Robbie Lawler UFC 171 Dallas, TX, US Mar 15, 2014 266 days 10 Robbie Lawler UFC 181 Las Vegas, NV, US Dec 6, 2014 602 days 1. def. Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 on Jul 11, 2015 2. 2. def. Carlos Condit at UFC 195 on Jan 2, 2016 11 Tyron Woodley UFC 201 Atlanta, GA, US Jul 30, 2016 945 days 1. drew with Stephen Thompson at UFC 205 on Nov 12, 2016 2. 2. def. Stephen Thompson at UFC 209 on Mar 4, 2017 3. 3. def. Demian Maia at UFC 214 on Jul 29, 2017 4. 4. def. Darren Till at UFC 228 on Sep 8, 2018 — Colby Covington def. Rafael dos Anjos for interim title UFC 225 Chicago, IL, US Jun 9, 2018 — Covington was stripped of the interim title on September 8, 2018, due to injury.[29] 12 Kamaru Usman UFC 235 Las Vegas, NV, US Mar 2, 2019 1079 days (incumbent) 1. def. Colby Covington at UFC 245 on Dec 14, 2019 2. 2. def. Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 on Jul 12, 2020 3. 3. def. Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 on Feb 13, 2021 4. 4. def. Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261 on Apr 24, 2021 5. 5. def. Colby Covington at UFC 268 on Nov 6, 2021 Lightweight Championship Edit 146 to 155 lb (66 to 70 kg) The Lightweight Championship was known as the Bantamweight Championship prior to UFC 31 (May 4, 2001). The Strikeforce Lightweight Championship was unified (perhaps unofficially) with the UFC Lightweight Championship on April 20, 2013, when Benson Henderson defeated Gilbert Melendez at UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez.[30] No. Name Event Date Reign (Total) Defenses 1 Jens Pulver def. Caol Uno UFC 30 Atlantic City, NJ, US Feb 23, 2001 393 days 1. def. Dennis Hallman at UFC 33 on Sep 28, 2001 2. 2. def. B.J. Penn at UFC 35 on Jan 11, 2002 Pulver was stripped of the title on March 23, 2002, when he left the UFC due to a contract dispute.[1] B.J. Penn and Caol Uno fought to a draw on February 28, 2003, at UFC 41 in Atlantic City, NJ, US in the finale of a four-man tournament for the vacant title.[1] 2 Sean Sherk def. Kenny Florian UFC 64 Las Vegas, NV, US Oct 14, 2006 420 days 1. def. Hermes França at UFC 73 on Jul 7, 2007 Sherk was stripped of the title on December 8, 2007, after testing positive for anabolic steroids in a post-fight drug test.[31] 3 B.J. Penn def. Joe Stevenson UFC 80 Newcastle, England, UK Jan 19, 2008 812 days 1. def. Sean Sherk at UFC 84 on May 24, 2008 2. 2. def. Kenny Florian at UFC 101 on Aug 8, 2009 3. 3. def. Diego Sanchez at UFC 107 on Dec 12, 2009 4 Frankie Edgar UFC 112 Abu Dhabi, UAE Apr 10, 2010 687 days 1. def. B.J. Penn at UFC 118 on Aug 28, 2010 2. 2. drew with Gray Maynard at UFC 125 on Jan 1, 2011 3. 3. def. Gray Maynard at UFC 136 on Oct 8, 2011 5 Benson Henderson UFC 144 Saitama, Japan Feb 26, 2012 552 days 1. def. Frankie Edgar at UFC 150 on Aug 11, 2012 2. 2. def. Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz on Dec 8, 2012 3. 3. def. Gilbert Melendez at UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez on Apr 20, 2013 6 Anthony Pettis UFC 164 Milw

It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine Caught on hot mic: US president Joe Biden throws expletive at scribe, apologises later but White House lets it slide A reporter had asked Biden whether inflation is a political liability when the gaffe happened. ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden begin high-stakes phone call on Ukraine crisis A State Department travel advisory on Saturday said most American staff at the Kyiv embassy have been ordered to leave and other U.S. citizens should depart the country immediately as well. 'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House The White House said Monday the "path for diplomacy" with Russia remains open, but warned anew, "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time." White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said new Russian forces have been arriving at the border with Ukraine "every day," adding, "it remains unclear" which path Russian President Vladimir Putin will take.'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on Russia to hold a meeting within the next 48 hours to discuss Moscow's military buildup along its borders. Biden in a roughly hour-long call with Zelensky assured of US help to Ukraine any further Russian aggression, according to a White House readout. The call came amid US warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen as soon as this week.Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment President Joe Biden said he had a "very, very, very good meeting" Monday with European allies on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion. Speaking in the White House East Room, Biden there is "total unanimity with all the European leaders" about next steps. The president made the comments during a meeting with his Competition Council, aimed at promoting economic competition and reducing prices for American consumers.Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment US: No 'cause for optimism' after Biden-Putin talks on Ukraine Pentagon spokesman John Kirby offered a grim assessment of the one-hour phone conversation Saturday between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden and Ukraine's Zelenskiy to discuss security on Sunday Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook the two leaders "would discuss the security situation and ongoing diplomatic de-escalation efforts". US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss threat posed by North Korea's nuclear missile test The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. 5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraine's neighboring countries: Poland and Romania. Severe consequences for Russia if it were to move into Ukraine: Joe Biden "I have made it clear early on to President (Vladimir) Putin that if he were to move into Ukraine, there would be severe consequences, including significant economic sanctions, as well as I would feel obliged to beef up our presence -- NATO's presence on the eastern front: Poland, Romania etc.," Biden told reporters. US' Indo-Pacific paper says India strong partner The strategy cites the "mounting challenges" posed by the rise of China as a key driver of the "intensifying American focus" in the Indo-Pacific, with "a strong India" as a partner in a regional vision. U.S. moves to free $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets to aid Afghanistan's people The multi-step plan calls for the other half of the funds to remain in the United States, subject to ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, including relatives of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacking attacks, the sources said. President Joe Biden has long been preparing for a Supreme Court pick Biden said as a presidential candidate that if he were given the chance to nominate someone to the court, he would make history by choosing a Black woman. And word on Wednesday that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire should give Biden that opportunity. Everyone wants to manufacture semiconductors. Now, EU rolls out billion dollar plan The EU move mirrors U.S. President Joe Biden's $52 billion push to invest in a national chip-producing sector to make sure more production occurs in the United States. Angelina Jolie urges US lawmakers to pass domestic violence law, says normalising abuse at home is the 'ugly truth' The star has accused her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, of intentionally hitting their son Maddox. After months of complaint by Elon Musk, Biden acknowledges Tesla "From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other startups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after decades." Joe Biden to meet Qatar leader as energy worries loom in Europe Qatar is one of the world's larger suppliers of liquefied natural gas and is among countries that the US is hoping could aid Europe should a Russian invasion of Ukraine lead to Moscow stemming the flow of energy. Biden's pandemic fight: Inside the setbacks of the first year Vaccines had been the core of President Joe Biden's pandemic strategy from the moment he took office. But as Walensky was briefed about a cluster of breakthrough cases in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the reality sank in. The delta variant, which had ravaged other parts of the world, was taking hold in the United States. And being vaccinated would not, it turned out, prevent people from becoming infected with the variant or transmitting it. Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. Joe Biden comforts victims of Colorado wildfire Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not speculate on further steps his administration is willing to take amid ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine. As he returned to the White House, Biden told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin was seeking "things he cannot get" from ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US president Joe Biden sending more troops to Europe amid Ukraine tension Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine's borders, including in neighbouring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. US Covid related death toll passes grim milestone due to Omicron surge President Biden's approval rating hits new low at one year mark, according to AP-NORC poll The latest poll shows that Americans' confidence in Biden's handling of the pandemic - seen as a strength early in his administration - has further eroded as the omicron variant strains the health care system and further exhausts an American electorate that had hoped life would be back to a semblance of normalcy by now. Biden says 'not there yet' on lifting China tariffs "I'd like to be in a position where I can say they're meeting the commitments, more of their commitments and be able to lift some of it," Biden said. President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Seeking to clarify his comments a day earlier that a “minor incursion” by Russia would elicit a lesser response, President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he will pay "a heavy price" for any aggressive action toward Ukraine. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Explainer: Why Europe lacks voice, power in Ukraine crisis Scarred by losing tens of millions of lives on their soil in two world wars, many European Union nations have been wary ever since about military spending. Now, as Russian pressure builds at the Ukrainian border, they face a painful reality: Europe remains heavily reliant on U.S. might to deter another potentially big conflict on its turf. Indian-American body urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pak envoy to US A top Indian diaspora group has urged US President Joe Biden to reject the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, alleging that the diplomat is a sympathiser and supporter of terrorist groups. Fed nominees say inflation is 'grave threat,' vow to fight "Our most important task is tackling inflation," Michigan State University economics professor Lisa Cook, one of three Fed nominees up for a confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate on Thursday, said in her prepared remarks. US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House The White House announced Wednesday President Joe Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 more from Germany to Romania, demonstrating to both allies and foes America's commitment to NATO's eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House Congressman urges Biden to reject Pak's ambassador-designate; terms him ‘terrorist sympathiser' Khan, who has previously served as the “president” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) until August last year, was nominated as Pakistan's ambassador to the US in November. View: One year of Joe Biden On the plus side, the US rejoined the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO), extended the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia for five years, led the effort to institute a global minimum tax on corporations, re-engaged allies and partners, held the first Quad summit and persuaded the EU to put the China trade deal on ice. Joe Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin Biden faces a complicated and globally more dangerous task: keeping the West unified as it faces what White House officials say is an increasingly likely further invasion of Ukrainian territory. President Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron President Joe Biden announced Thursday the government will distribute 1 billion rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests free to Americans, along with the most protective N95 masks, as the White House looks to fight the spike in coronavirus casesPresident Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron US president Joe Biden answers inflation query by calling Fox reporter SOB His comments were captured on video and by the microphone in front of him. Doocy laughed it off in a subsequent appearance on his network, joking, "Nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true." Meet Willow, the newest addition to the Biden family The green-eyed canine joins long and varied line of White House pets. Russia's risky options following Ukraine attack Russia, which is seeking a pledge that NATO won't expand to include Ukraine, has options it could pursue short of a full-blown invasion, and other ways to lash out at the U.S. and its allies. All of them carry varying degrees of risk, to Russia and the world. France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to sit down for talks in two weeks, an effort aimed at reviving a 2015 agreement to ease the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Some fear this complicates efforts by the U.S. and NATO to show a united front against Russia. President Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' President Biden visited a bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh just hours before his visit to deliver remarks on infrastructure. The president pledged to rebuild it and fix other bridges across the countryPresident Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' Joe Biden administration to scrap Trump plan for wider Alaska oil drilling Official notice of the change will come in a notice to be filed on Monday in federal court in Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of Department of the Interior, said in a statement. U.S. economy likely regained steam in Q4, 2021 growth seen best in 37 years U.S. economic growth likely accelerated in the fourth quarter as businesses replenished depleted inventories to meet strong demand for goods, helping the nation to log its best performance in nearly four decades in 2021. North Korea fires two suspected missiles in 6th launch in 2022 North Korea has upped its testing activity recently in an apparent effort to pressure the Joe Biden administration in the US amid long-stalled nuclear talks. US delivers written response to Russia's security demands Washington has made clear that Russian demands for NATO to pull back troops and weapons from eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever joining are non-starters. It says it is ready to discuss other topics such as arms control and confidence-building measures. Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin President Joe Biden's effort to rally support, both at home and abroad, ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is just the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. U.S. companies push Biden, Congress for caution on Russia sanctions A trade group representing Chevron, General Electric and other big U.S. corporations that do business in Russia is asking the White House to consider allowing companies to fulfill commitments and to weigh exempting products as it crafts any sanctions. At the same time, big energy companies are pushing Congress to limit their scope and time frame. Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensions Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensionsWith the West already accusing Moscow of massing more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border, the Russian military said it had launched drills involving 6,000 troops in the south and in the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: USThe U.S. State department said if Russia invades Ukraine, it would be met by a response that's not only "swift, severe and united," but also "unprecedented in its approach." Earlier, President Joe Biden told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to build forces along Ukraine’s border,” and an attack “would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.”'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be needed Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be neededA COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the Omicron variant would be "prudent" even if it ultimately may not be needed, the top U.S. infectious disease official said on Tuesday as Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE announced such a clinical trial. US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflationPresident Joe Biden called on the Federal Reserve to do more to fight inflation by pulling back on its monetary boosting of the US economy.US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worryPutting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine. Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022 Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022From Europe to the U.S. and China, production and transportation have stayed bogged down in the early days of 2022 by labor and parts shortages, in part because of the fast-spreading omicron variant. White House to hold second Competition Council meet White House to hold second Competition Council meetThe White House did not confirm the meeting would take place but said President Joe Biden would meet on Monday "with members of his administration on efforts to lower prices for working families." Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine

This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics.

This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics.

It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine Caught on hot mic: US president Joe Biden throws expletive at scribe, apologises later but White House lets it slide A reporter had asked Biden whether inflation is a political liability when the gaffe happened. ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden begin high-stakes phone call on Ukraine crisis A State Department travel advisory on Saturday said most American staff at the Kyiv embassy have been ordered to leave and other U.S. citizens should depart the country immediately as well. 'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House The White House said Monday the "path for diplomacy" with Russia remains open, but warned anew, "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time." White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said new Russian forces have been arriving at the border with Ukraine "every day," adding, "it remains unclear" which path Russian President Vladimir Putin will take.'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on Russia to hold a meeting within the next 48 hours to discuss Moscow's military buildup along its borders. Biden in a roughly hour-long call with Zelensky assured of US help to Ukraine any further Russian aggression, according to a White House readout. The call came amid US warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen as soon as this week.Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment President Joe Biden said he had a "very, very, very good meeting" Monday with European allies on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion. Speaking in the White House East Room, Biden there is "total unanimity with all the European leaders" about next steps. The president made the comments during a meeting with his Competition Council, aimed at promoting economic competition and reducing prices for American consumers.Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment US: No 'cause for optimism' after Biden-Putin talks on Ukraine Pentagon spokesman John Kirby offered a grim assessment of the one-hour phone conversation Saturday between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden and Ukraine's Zelenskiy to discuss security on Sunday Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook the two leaders "would discuss the security situation and ongoing diplomatic de-escalation efforts". US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss threat posed by North Korea's nuclear missile test The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. 5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraine's neighboring countries: Poland and Romania. Severe consequences for Russia if it were to move into Ukraine: Joe Biden "I have made it clear early on to President (Vladimir) Putin that if he were to move into Ukraine, there would be severe consequences, including significant economic sanctions, as well as I would feel obliged to beef up our presence -- NATO's presence on the eastern front: Poland, Romania etc.," Biden told reporters. US' Indo-Pacific paper says India strong partner The strategy cites the "mounting challenges" posed by the rise of China as a key driver of the "intensifying American focus" in the Indo-Pacific, with "a strong India" as a partner in a regional vision. U.S. moves to free $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets to aid Afghanistan's people The multi-step plan calls for the other half of the funds to remain in the United States, subject to ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, including relatives of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacking attacks, the sources said. President Joe Biden has long been preparing for a Supreme Court pick Biden said as a presidential candidate that if he were given the chance to nominate someone to the court, he would make history by choosing a Black woman. And word on Wednesday that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire should give Biden that opportunity. Everyone wants to manufacture semiconductors. Now, EU rolls out billion dollar plan The EU move mirrors U.S. President Joe Biden's $52 billion push to invest in a national chip-producing sector to make sure more production occurs in the United States. Angelina Jolie urges US lawmakers to pass domestic violence law, says normalising abuse at home is the 'ugly truth' The star has accused her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, of intentionally hitting their son Maddox. After months of complaint by Elon Musk, Biden acknowledges Tesla "From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other startups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after decades." Joe Biden to meet Qatar leader as energy worries loom in Europe Qatar is one of the world's larger suppliers of liquefied natural gas and is among countries that the US is hoping could aid Europe should a Russian invasion of Ukraine lead to Moscow stemming the flow of energy. Biden's pandemic fight: Inside the setbacks of the first year Vaccines had been the core of President Joe Biden's pandemic strategy from the moment he took office. But as Walensky was briefed about a cluster of breakthrough cases in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the reality sank in. The delta variant, which had ravaged other parts of the world, was taking hold in the United States. And being vaccinated would not, it turned out, prevent people from becoming infected with the variant or transmitting it. Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. Joe Biden comforts victims of Colorado wildfire Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not speculate on further steps his administration is willing to take amid ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine. As he returned to the White House, Biden told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin was seeking "things he cannot get" from ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US president Joe Biden sending more troops to Europe amid Ukraine tension Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine's borders, including in neighbouring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. US Covid related death toll passes grim milestone due to Omicron surge President Biden's approval rating hits new low at one year mark, according to AP-NORC poll The latest poll shows that Americans' confidence in Biden's handling of the pandemic - seen as a strength early in his administration - has further eroded as the omicron variant strains the health care system and further exhausts an American electorate that had hoped life would be back to a semblance of normalcy by now. Biden says 'not there yet' on lifting China tariffs "I'd like to be in a position where I can say they're meeting the commitments, more of their commitments and be able to lift some of it," Biden said. President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Seeking to clarify his comments a day earlier that a “minor incursion” by Russia would elicit a lesser response, President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he will pay "a heavy price" for any aggressive action toward Ukraine. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Explainer: Why Europe lacks voice, power in Ukraine crisis Scarred by losing tens of millions of lives on their soil in two world wars, many European Union nations have been wary ever since about military spending. Now, as Russian pressure builds at the Ukrainian border, they face a painful reality: Europe remains heavily reliant on U.S. might to deter another potentially big conflict on its turf. Indian-American body urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pak envoy to US A top Indian diaspora group has urged US President Joe Biden to reject the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, alleging that the diplomat is a sympathiser and supporter of terrorist groups. Fed nominees say inflation is 'grave threat,' vow to fight "Our most important task is tackling inflation," Michigan State University economics professor Lisa Cook, one of three Fed nominees up for a confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate on Thursday, said in her prepared remarks. US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House The White House announced Wednesday President Joe Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 more from Germany to Romania, demonstrating to both allies and foes America's commitment to NATO's eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House Congressman urges Biden to reject Pak's ambassador-designate; terms him ‘terrorist sympathiser' Khan, who has previously served as the “president” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) until August last year, was nominated as Pakistan's ambassador to the US in November. View: One year of Joe Biden On the plus side, the US rejoined the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO), extended the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia for five years, led the effort to institute a global minimum tax on corporations, re-engaged allies and partners, held the first Quad summit and persuaded the EU to put the China trade deal on ice. Joe Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin Biden faces a complicated and globally more dangerous task: keeping the West unified as it faces what White House officials say is an increasingly likely further invasion of Ukrainian territory. 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Russia's risky options following Ukraine attack Russia, which is seeking a pledge that NATO won't expand to include Ukraine, has options it could pursue short of a full-blown invasion, and other ways to lash out at the U.S. and its allies. All of them carry varying degrees of risk, to Russia and the world. France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to sit down for talks in two weeks, an effort aimed at reviving a 2015 agreement to ease the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Some fear this complicates efforts by the U.S. and NATO to show a united front against Russia. President Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' President Biden visited a bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh just hours before his visit to deliver remarks on infrastructure. The president pledged to rebuild it and fix other bridges across the countryPresident Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' Joe Biden administration to scrap Trump plan for wider Alaska oil drilling Official notice of the change will come in a notice to be filed on Monday in federal court in Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of Department of the Interior, said in a statement. U.S. economy likely regained steam in Q4, 2021 growth seen best in 37 years U.S. economic growth likely accelerated in the fourth quarter as businesses replenished depleted inventories to meet strong demand for goods, helping the nation to log its best performance in nearly four decades in 2021. North Korea fires two suspected missiles in 6th launch in 2022 North Korea has upped its testing activity recently in an apparent effort to pressure the Joe Biden administration in the US amid long-stalled nuclear talks. US delivers written response to Russia's security demands Washington has made clear that Russian demands for NATO to pull back troops and weapons from eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever joining are non-starters. It says it is ready to discuss other topics such as arms control and confidence-building measures. Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin President Joe Biden's effort to rally support, both at home and abroad, ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is just the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. U.S. companies push Biden, Congress for caution on Russia sanctions A trade group representing Chevron, General Electric and other big U.S. corporations that do business in Russia is asking the White House to consider allowing companies to fulfill commitments and to weigh exempting products as it crafts any sanctions. At the same time, big energy companies are pushing Congress to limit their scope and time frame. Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensions Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensionsWith the West already accusing Moscow of massing more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border, the Russian military said it had launched drills involving 6,000 troops in the south and in the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: USThe U.S. State department said if Russia invades Ukraine, it would be met by a response that's not only "swift, severe and united," but also "unprecedented in its approach." Earlier, President Joe Biden told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to build forces along Ukraine’s border,” and an attack “would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.”'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be needed Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be neededA COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the Omicron variant would be "prudent" even if it ultimately may not be needed, the top U.S. infectious disease official said on Tuesday as Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE announced such a clinical trial. US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflationPresident Joe Biden called on the Federal Reserve to do more to fight inflation by pulling back on its monetary boosting of the US economy.US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worryPutting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine. Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022 Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022From Europe to the U.S. and China, production and transportation have stayed bogged down in the early days of 2022 by labor and parts shortages, in part because of the fast-spreading omicron variant. White House to hold second Competition Council meet White House to hold second Competition Council meetThe White House did not confirm the meeting would take place but said President Joe Biden would meet on Monday "with members of his administration on efforts to lower prices for working families." Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine

It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine Caught on hot mic: US president Joe Biden throws expletive at scribe, apologises later but White House lets it slide A reporter had asked Biden whether inflation is a political liability when the gaffe happened. ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden begin high-stakes phone call on Ukraine crisis A State Department travel advisory on Saturday said most American staff at the Kyiv embassy have been ordered to leave and other U.S. citizens should depart the country immediately as well. 'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House The White House said Monday the "path for diplomacy" with Russia remains open, but warned anew, "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time." White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said new Russian forces have been arriving at the border with Ukraine "every day," adding, "it remains unclear" which path Russian President Vladimir Putin will take.'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on Russia to hold a meeting within the next 48 hours to discuss Moscow's military buildup along its borders. Biden in a roughly hour-long call with Zelensky assured of US help to Ukraine any further Russian aggression, according to a White House readout. The call came amid US warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen as soon as this week.Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment President Joe Biden said he had a "very, very, very good meeting" Monday with European allies on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion. Speaking in the White House East Room, Biden there is "total unanimity with all the European leaders" about next steps. The president made the comments during a meeting with his Competition Council, aimed at promoting economic competition and reducing prices for American consumers.Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment US: No 'cause for optimism' after Biden-Putin talks on Ukraine Pentagon spokesman John Kirby offered a grim assessment of the one-hour phone conversation Saturday between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden and Ukraine's Zelenskiy to discuss security on Sunday Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook the two leaders "would discuss the security situation and ongoing diplomatic de-escalation efforts". US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss threat posed by North Korea's nuclear missile test The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. 5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraine's neighboring countries: Poland and Romania. Severe consequences for Russia if it were to move into Ukraine: Joe Biden "I have made it clear early on to President (Vladimir) Putin that if he were to move into Ukraine, there would be severe consequences, including significant economic sanctions, as well as I would feel obliged to beef up our presence -- NATO's presence on the eastern front: Poland, Romania etc.," Biden told reporters. US' Indo-Pacific paper says India strong partner The strategy cites the "mounting challenges" posed by the rise of China as a key driver of the "intensifying American focus" in the Indo-Pacific, with "a strong India" as a partner in a regional vision. U.S. moves to free $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets to aid Afghanistan's people The multi-step plan calls for the other half of the funds to remain in the United States, subject to ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, including relatives of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacking attacks, the sources said. President Joe Biden has long been preparing for a Supreme Court pick Biden said as a presidential candidate that if he were given the chance to nominate someone to the court, he would make history by choosing a Black woman. And word on Wednesday that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire should give Biden that opportunity. Everyone wants to manufacture semiconductors. Now, EU rolls out billion dollar plan The EU move mirrors U.S. President Joe Biden's $52 billion push to invest in a national chip-producing sector to make sure more production occurs in the United States. Angelina Jolie urges US lawmakers to pass domestic violence law, says normalising abuse at home is the 'ugly truth' The star has accused her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, of intentionally hitting their son Maddox. After months of complaint by Elon Musk, Biden acknowledges Tesla "From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other startups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after decades." Joe Biden to meet Qatar leader as energy worries loom in Europe Qatar is one of the world's larger suppliers of liquefied natural gas and is among countries that the US is hoping could aid Europe should a Russian invasion of Ukraine lead to Moscow stemming the flow of energy. Biden's pandemic fight: Inside the setbacks of the first year Vaccines had been the core of President Joe Biden's pandemic strategy from the moment he took office. But as Walensky was briefed about a cluster of breakthrough cases in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the reality sank in. The delta variant, which had ravaged other parts of the world, was taking hold in the United States. And being vaccinated would not, it turned out, prevent people from becoming infected with the variant or transmitting it. Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. Joe Biden comforts victims of Colorado wildfire Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not speculate on further steps his administration is willing to take amid ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine. As he returned to the White House, Biden told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin was seeking "things he cannot get" from ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US president Joe Biden sending more troops to Europe amid Ukraine tension Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine's borders, including in neighbouring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. US Covid related death toll passes grim milestone due to Omicron surge President Biden's approval rating hits new low at one year mark, according to AP-NORC poll The latest poll shows that Americans' confidence in Biden's handling of the pandemic - seen as a strength early in his administration - has further eroded as the omicron variant strains the health care system and further exhausts an American electorate that had hoped life would be back to a semblance of normalcy by now. Biden says 'not there yet' on lifting China tariffs "I'd like to be in a position where I can say they're meeting the commitments, more of their commitments and be able to lift some of it," Biden said. President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Seeking to clarify his comments a day earlier that a “minor incursion” by Russia would elicit a lesser response, President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he will pay "a heavy price" for any aggressive action toward Ukraine. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Explainer: Why Europe lacks voice, power in Ukraine crisis Scarred by losing tens of millions of lives on their soil in two world wars, many European Union nations have been wary ever since about military spending. Now, as Russian pressure builds at the Ukrainian border, they face a painful reality: Europe remains heavily reliant on U.S. might to deter another potentially big conflict on its turf. Indian-American body urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pak envoy to US A top Indian diaspora group has urged US President Joe Biden to reject the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, alleging that the diplomat is a sympathiser and supporter of terrorist groups. Fed nominees say inflation is 'grave threat,' vow to fight "Our most important task is tackling inflation," Michigan State University economics professor Lisa Cook, one of three Fed nominees up for a confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate on Thursday, said in her prepared remarks. US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House The White House announced Wednesday President Joe Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 more from Germany to Romania, demonstrating to both allies and foes America's commitment to NATO's eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House Congressman urges Biden to reject Pak's ambassador-designate; terms him ‘terrorist sympathiser' Khan, who has previously served as the “president” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) until August last year, was nominated as Pakistan's ambassador to the US in November. View: One year of Joe Biden On the plus side, the US rejoined the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO), extended the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia for five years, led the effort to institute a global minimum tax on corporations, re-engaged allies and partners, held the first Quad summit and persuaded the EU to put the China trade deal on ice. Joe Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin Biden faces a complicated and globally more dangerous task: keeping the West unified as it faces what White House officials say is an increasingly likely further invasion of Ukrainian territory. President Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron President Joe Biden announced Thursday the government will distribute 1 billion rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests free to Americans, along with the most protective N95 masks, as the White House looks to fight the spike in coronavirus casesPresident Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron US president Joe Biden answers inflation query by calling Fox reporter SOB His comments were captured on video and by the microphone in front of him. Doocy laughed it off in a subsequent appearance on his network, joking, "Nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true." Meet Willow, the newest addition to the Biden family The green-eyed canine joins long and varied line of White House pets. Russia's risky options following Ukraine attack Russia, which is seeking a pledge that NATO won't expand to include Ukraine, has options it could pursue short of a full-blown invasion, and other ways to lash out at the U.S. and its allies. All of them carry varying degrees of risk, to Russia and the world. France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to sit down for talks in two weeks, an effort aimed at reviving a 2015 agreement to ease the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Some fear this complicates efforts by the U.S. and NATO to show a united front against Russia. President Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' President Biden visited a bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh just hours before his visit to deliver remarks on infrastructure. The president pledged to rebuild it and fix other bridges across the countryPresident Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' Joe Biden administration to scrap Trump plan for wider Alaska oil drilling Official notice of the change will come in a notice to be filed on Monday in federal court in Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of Department of the Interior, said in a statement. U.S. economy likely regained steam in Q4, 2021 growth seen best in 37 years U.S. economic growth likely accelerated in the fourth quarter as businesses replenished depleted inventories to meet strong demand for goods, helping the nation to log its best performance in nearly four decades in 2021. North Korea fires two suspected missiles in 6th launch in 2022 North Korea has upped its testing activity recently in an apparent effort to pressure the Joe Biden administration in the US amid long-stalled nuclear talks. US delivers written response to Russia's security demands Washington has made clear that Russian demands for NATO to pull back troops and weapons from eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever joining are non-starters. It says it is ready to discuss other topics such as arms control and confidence-building measures. Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin President Joe Biden's effort to rally support, both at home and abroad, ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is just the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. U.S. companies push Biden, Congress for caution on Russia sanctions A trade group representing Chevron, General Electric and other big U.S. corporations that do business in Russia is asking the White House to consider allowing companies to fulfill commitments and to weigh exempting products as it crafts any sanctions. At the same time, big energy companies are pushing Congress to limit their scope and time frame. Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensions Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensionsWith the West already accusing Moscow of massing more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border, the Russian military said it had launched drills involving 6,000 troops in the south and in the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: USThe U.S. State department said if Russia invades Ukraine, it would be met by a response that's not only "swift, severe and united," but also "unprecedented in its approach." Earlier, President Joe Biden told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to build forces along Ukraine’s border,” and an attack “would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.”'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be needed Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be neededA COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the Omicron variant would be "prudent" even if it ultimately may not be needed, the top U.S. infectious disease official said on Tuesday as Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE announced such a clinical trial. US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflationPresident Joe Biden called on the Federal Reserve to do more to fight inflation by pulling back on its monetary boosting of the US economy.US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worryPutting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine. Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022 Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022From Europe to the U.S. and China, production and transportation have stayed bogged down in the early days of 2022 by labor and parts shortages, in part because of the fast-spreading omicron variant. White House to hold second Competition Council meet White House to hold second Competition Council meetThe White House did not confirm the meeting would take place but said President Joe Biden would meet on Monday "with members of his administration on efforts to lower prices for working families." Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine

It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine Caught on hot mic: US president Joe Biden throws expletive at scribe, apologises later but White House lets it slide A reporter had asked Biden whether inflation is a political liability when the gaffe happened. ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden begin high-stakes phone call on Ukraine crisis A State Department travel advisory on Saturday said most American staff at the Kyiv embassy have been ordered to leave and other U.S. citizens should depart the country immediately as well. 'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House The White House said Monday the "path for diplomacy" with Russia remains open, but warned anew, "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time." White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said new Russian forces have been arriving at the border with Ukraine "every day," adding, "it remains unclear" which path Russian President Vladimir Putin will take.'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on Russia to hold a meeting within the next 48 hours to discuss Moscow's military buildup along its borders. Biden in a roughly hour-long call with Zelensky assured of US help to Ukraine any further Russian aggression, according to a White House readout. The call came amid US warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen as soon as this week.Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment President Joe Biden said he had a "very, very, very good meeting" Monday with European allies on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion. Speaking in the White House East Room, Biden there is "total unanimity with all the European leaders" about next steps. The president made the comments during a meeting with his Competition Council, aimed at promoting economic competition and reducing prices for American consumers.Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment US: No 'cause for optimism' after Biden-Putin talks on Ukraine Pentagon spokesman John Kirby offered a grim assessment of the one-hour phone conversation Saturday between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden and Ukraine's Zelenskiy to discuss security on Sunday Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook the two leaders "would discuss the security situation and ongoing diplomatic de-escalation efforts". US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss threat posed by North Korea's nuclear missile test The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. 5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraine's neighboring countries: Poland and Romania. Severe consequences for Russia if it were to move into Ukraine: Joe Biden "I have made it clear early on to President (Vladimir) Putin that if he were to move into Ukraine, there would be severe consequences, including significant economic sanctions, as well as I would feel obliged to beef up our presence -- NATO's presence on the eastern front: Poland, Romania etc.," Biden told reporters. US' Indo-Pacific paper says India strong partner The strategy cites the "mounting challenges" posed by the rise of China as a key driver of the "intensifying American focus" in the Indo-Pacific, with "a strong India" as a partner in a regional vision. U.S. moves to free $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets to aid Afghanistan's people The multi-step plan calls for the other half of the funds to remain in the United States, subject to ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, including relatives of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacking attacks, the sources said. President Joe Biden has long been preparing for a Supreme Court pick Biden said as a presidential candidate that if he were given the chance to nominate someone to the court, he would make history by choosing a Black woman. And word on Wednesday that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire should give Biden that opportunity. Everyone wants to manufacture semiconductors. Now, EU rolls out billion dollar plan The EU move mirrors U.S. President Joe Biden's $52 billion push to invest in a national chip-producing sector to make sure more production occurs in the United States. Angelina Jolie urges US lawmakers to pass domestic violence law, says normalising abuse at home is the 'ugly truth' The star has accused her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, of intentionally hitting their son Maddox. After months of complaint by Elon Musk, Biden acknowledges Tesla "From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other startups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after decades." Joe Biden to meet Qatar leader as energy worries loom in Europe Qatar is one of the world's larger suppliers of liquefied natural gas and is among countries that the US is hoping could aid Europe should a Russian invasion of Ukraine lead to Moscow stemming the flow of energy. Biden's pandemic fight: Inside the setbacks of the first year Vaccines had been the core of President Joe Biden's pandemic strategy from the moment he took office. But as Walensky was briefed about a cluster of breakthrough cases in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the reality sank in. The delta variant, which had ravaged other parts of the world, was taking hold in the United States. And being vaccinated would not, it turned out, prevent people from becoming infected with the variant or transmitting it. Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. Joe Biden comforts victims of Colorado wildfire Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not speculate on further steps his administration is willing to take amid ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine. As he returned to the White House, Biden told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin was seeking "things he cannot get" from ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US president Joe Biden sending more troops to Europe amid Ukraine tension Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine's borders, including in neighbouring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. US Covid related death toll passes grim milestone due to Omicron surge President Biden's approval rating hits new low at one year mark, according to AP-NORC poll The latest poll shows that Americans' confidence in Biden's handling of the pandemic - seen as a strength early in his administration - has further eroded as the omicron variant strains the health care system and further exhausts an American electorate that had hoped life would be back to a semblance of normalcy by now. Biden says 'not there yet' on lifting China tariffs "I'd like to be in a position where I can say they're meeting the commitments, more of their commitments and be able to lift some of it," Biden said. President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Seeking to clarify his comments a day earlier that a “minor incursion” by Russia would elicit a lesser response, President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he will pay "a heavy price" for any aggressive action toward Ukraine. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Explainer: Why Europe lacks voice, power in Ukraine crisis Scarred by losing tens of millions of lives on their soil in two world wars, many European Union nations have been wary ever since about military spending. Now, as Russian pressure builds at the Ukrainian border, they face a painful reality: Europe remains heavily reliant on U.S. might to deter another potentially big conflict on its turf. Indian-American body urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pak envoy to US A top Indian diaspora group has urged US President Joe Biden to reject the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, alleging that the diplomat is a sympathiser and supporter of terrorist groups. Fed nominees say inflation is 'grave threat,' vow to fight "Our most important task is tackling inflation," Michigan State University economics professor Lisa Cook, one of three Fed nominees up for a confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate on Thursday, said in her prepared remarks. US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House The White House announced Wednesday President Joe Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 more from Germany to Romania, demonstrating to both allies and foes America's commitment to NATO's eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House Congressman urges Biden to reject Pak's ambassador-designate; terms him ‘terrorist sympathiser' Khan, who has previously served as the “president” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) until August last year, was nominated as Pakistan's ambassador to the US in November. View: One year of Joe Biden On the plus side, the US rejoined the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO), extended the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia for five years, led the effort to institute a global minimum tax on corporations, re-engaged allies and partners, held the first Quad summit and persuaded the EU to put the China trade deal on ice. Joe Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin Biden faces a complicated and globally more dangerous task: keeping the West unified as it faces what White House officials say is an increasingly likely further invasion of Ukrainian territory. President Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron President Joe Biden announced Thursday the government will distribute 1 billion rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests free to Americans, along with the most protective N95 masks, as the White House looks to fight the spike in coronavirus casesPresident Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron US president Joe Biden answers inflation query by calling Fox reporter SOB His comments were captured on video and by the microphone in front of him. Doocy laughed it off in a subsequent appearance on his network, joking, "Nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true." Meet Willow, the newest addition to the Biden family The green-eyed canine joins long and varied line of White House pets. Russia's risky options following Ukraine attack Russia, which is seeking a pledge that NATO won't expand to include Ukraine, has options it could pursue short of a full-blown invasion, and other ways to lash out at the U.S. and its allies. All of them carry varying degrees of risk, to Russia and the world. France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to sit down for talks in two weeks, an effort aimed at reviving a 2015 agreement to ease the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Some fear this complicates efforts by the U.S. and NATO to show a united front against Russia. President Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' President Biden visited a bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh just hours before his visit to deliver remarks on infrastructure. The president pledged to rebuild it and fix other bridges across the countryPresident Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' Joe Biden administration to scrap Trump plan for wider Alaska oil drilling Official notice of the change will come in a notice to be filed on Monday in federal court in Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of Department of the Interior, said in a statement. U.S. economy likely regained steam in Q4, 2021 growth seen best in 37 years U.S. economic growth likely accelerated in the fourth quarter as businesses replenished depleted inventories to meet strong demand for goods, helping the nation to log its best performance in nearly four decades in 2021. North Korea fires two suspected missiles in 6th launch in 2022 North Korea has upped its testing activity recently in an apparent effort to pressure the Joe Biden administration in the US amid long-stalled nuclear talks. US delivers written response to Russia's security demands Washington has made clear that Russian demands for NATO to pull back troops and weapons from eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever joining are non-starters. It says it is ready to discuss other topics such as arms control and confidence-building measures. Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin President Joe Biden's effort to rally support, both at home and abroad, ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is just the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. U.S. companies push Biden, Congress for caution on Russia sanctions A trade group representing Chevron, General Electric and other big U.S. corporations that do business in Russia is asking the White House to consider allowing companies to fulfill commitments and to weigh exempting products as it crafts any sanctions. At the same time, big energy companies are pushing Congress to limit their scope and time frame. Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensions Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensionsWith the West already accusing Moscow of massing more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border, the Russian military said it had launched drills involving 6,000 troops in the south and in the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: USThe U.S. State department said if Russia invades Ukraine, it would be met by a response that's not only "swift, severe and united," but also "unprecedented in its approach." Earlier, President Joe Biden told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to build forces along Ukraine’s border,” and an attack “would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.”'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be needed Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be neededA COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the Omicron variant would be "prudent" even if it ultimately may not be needed, the top U.S. infectious disease official said on Tuesday as Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE announced such a clinical trial. US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflationPresident Joe Biden called on the Federal Reserve to do more to fight inflation by pulling back on its monetary boosting of the US economy.US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worryPutting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine. Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022 Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022From Europe to the U.S. and China, production and transportation have stayed bogged down in the early days of 2022 by labor and parts shortages, in part because of the fast-spreading omicron variant. White House to hold second Competition Council meet White House to hold second Competition Council meetThe White House did not confirm the meeting would take place but said President Joe Biden would meet on Monday "with members of his administration on efforts to lower prices for working families." Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involvedUkraine's layered history offers a window into the complex nation it is today - and why it is continuously under threat. As an Eastern Europe expert, I highlight five key points to keep in mind. Joe Biden to deliver first State of the Union address on March 1 Joe Biden to deliver first State of the Union address on March 1The speech is normally timed for January, and occasionally for February. The delay is driven in part by a busy legislative calendar, a winter spike in COVID-19 cases from the more transmissible omicron variant and the upcoming Winter Olympics, which ties up broadcast network time. Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pill Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pillPresident Joe Biden urged concern but not alarm Tuesday as the U.S. set new records for daily reported COVID-19 cases and his administration struggled to ease concerns about testing shortages, school closures and other disruptions caused by the surging omicron variant. The United States government doubled its order for Pfizer’s COVID pills on Tuesday, a move that will modestly increase the nation’s very limited supplies of the treatment in the short term amid a record-setting surge in coronavirus cases.Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pill Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning' Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning'U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday hailed an announcement by Intel Corp. that it will construct a $20 billion factory outside Columbus, Ohio, creating 7,000 construction jobs and an additional 3,000 permanent jobs. Intel is the latest semiconductor company to announce expansion plans in the U.S. amid a global shortage of the chips used in phones, cars and video games. Biden said the announcement shows the U.S. is "in a better position than any nation...to seize these opportunities," and he hailed the passage of his bipartisan infrastructure legislation as one of the reasons.Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning' Biden and Kishida agree to 'push back' China's attempts to change status quo in East China Sea, SCS Biden and Kishida agree to 'push back' China's attempts to change status quo in East China Sea, SCSUS President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have agreed to "push back" against China's attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and highlighted the importance of the Quad grouping as a critical forum for promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Indian-origin head of White House military office quits citing personal reasons Indian-origin head of White House military office quits citing personal reasonsMaju Varghese, the Indian-origin director of the White House Military Office, has quit his post, citing personal reasons. In a series of tweets on Saturday, Varghese said leading the White House Military Office (WHMO) was the honour of a lifetime. US delivers around 2 lakh pounds of lethal aid to Ukraine US delivers around 2 lakh pounds of lethal aid to UkraineThe United States has delivered around 200,000 pounds of lethal aid to Ukraine as part of its first shipment of new military assistance directed by President Biden amid tensions at the Ukrainian-Russian border, the US embassy in Kiev said Biden plans new effort to retain international science and tech students Biden plans new effort to retain international science and tech studentsA program allowing those on student visas to stay for an extended period of training will also be expanded to areas such as data science, cloud computing and data visualization. "Other countries, most notably China, are using STEM talent to try to supplant the United States as the world's foremost scientific and technological innovator," one of the officials told reporters. World worse now due to COVID, climate, conflict: U.N. secretary-general, Antonio Guterres World worse now due to COVID, climate, conflict: U.N. secretary-general, Antonio GuterresGuterres said the U.N. Security Council, which does have the power to uphold international peace and security including by imposing sanctions and ordering military action, is divided, especially its five veto-wielding permanent members. Russia and China are often at odds with the U.S., Britain and France on key issues, including Thursday on new sanctions against North Korea. 'Minor incursion' by Russia could complicate West's response 'Minor incursion' by Russia could complicate West's responseAmong the possibilities for limited Russian military action: Putin could move much of the Russian ground force away from the border but further bolster the separatists who control the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. That conflict has killed more than 14,000 people in nearly eight years of fighting. Kamala Harris will be his running mate in 2024, says President Biden Kamala Harris will be his running mate in 2024, says President BidenUS President Joe Biden has said that Vice President Kamala Harris would be his running mate if he stood for office again in 2024. President Biden made this emphatic assertion on Wednesday amid US media reports alleging dysfunction among her staff and doubt on her standing within the administration. Joe Biden shied away from news conferences, interviews in Year 1 Joe Biden shied away from news conferences, interviews in Year 1"I'm not supposed to be having this press conference right now," Biden said at the end of a meandering response that didn't directly answer the question about the West Virginia Democrat. Biden says Fed should 'recalibrate' policy as prices rise Biden says Fed should 'recalibrate' policy as prices riseFed policymakers have signaled they will raise interest rates several times this year, likely starting in March, to try to rein in inflation that's rising at its fastest pace in nearly 40 years. A reduction in the Fed's $8 trillion balance sheet could soon follow. President Biden confirms Kamala Harris would be running mate in 2024 President Biden confirms Kamala Harris would be running mate in 2024In mid-December, Harris said she and Biden had not yet discussed the 2024 election, amid speculation she may not be in the running for the White House if Biden chose not to stand again. 1 year in: Biden ready to talk through progress, setbacks 1 year in: Biden ready to talk through progress, setbacksStill, it is a perilous time for Biden: The nation is gripped by another disruptive surge of virus cases and inflation is at a level not seen in a generation. Biden's approval rating has fallen sharply over his first year in office and Democrats are bracing for a potential midterm rout if he can't turn things around. US is said to examine Alibaba's cloud unit for national security risks US is said to examine Alibaba's cloud unit for national security risksThe focus of the probe is on how Alibaba's cloud unit stores US clients' data, including personal information and intellectual property, and whether the Chinese government could gain access to it. Biden year one takeaways: Grand ambitions, humbling defeats Biden year one takeaways: Grand ambitions, humbling defeatsJoe Biden's long arc in public life has always had one final ambition: to sit behind the Resolute Desk of the Oval Office. He achieved it - albeit, at 78, as the oldest person to assume the US presidency. After the turbulence and chaos of his predecessor, Donald Trump, Biden was seen by voters as one who could restore a sense of normalcy and a reassuring tone to the White House. Joe Biden calls Donald Trump threat to democracy on anniversary of Capitol attack Joe Biden calls Donald Trump threat to democracy on anniversary of Capitol attackSpeaking at the white-domed building that was the scene of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, Biden warned that Trump's false claims that the election was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud could unravel the rule of law and undermine future elections. Saudi energy minister: It's U.S. prerogative to draw on strategic oil reserves Saudi energy minister: It's U.S. prerogative to draw on strategic oil reservesSaudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Monday that it was up to the United States whether or not it would release more supply from strategic petroleum reserves. Saudi energy minister says he is 'always comfortable' with oil prices Saudi energy minister says he is 'always comfortable' with oil pricesPresident Joe Biden's administration said in November it would release about 50 million barrels from its reserves in conjunction with other consumer nations, such as China, India and South Korea, to combat the rising cost of fuel. US to provide 500 million home tests as Omicron surges: President Joe Biden US to provide 500 million home tests as Omicron surges: President Joe BidenFighting the omicron variant surging through the U.S., President Joe Biden is redoubling vaccination and boosting efforts and announced Tuesday that the government would provide 500 million free rapid testsUS to provide 500 million home tests as Omicron surges: President Joe Biden Trump rallies faithful at 'MAGA Woodstock' Trump rallies faithful at 'MAGA Woodstock'Some of the faithful had arrived in the area days in advance from as far away as Florida or Texas, waiting to hear the former president trot out a familiar list of grievances. Their patience was soon rewarded. "We are done having our lives controlled by politicians in Washington. We are done with the mandates," he said, in reference to rules brought in to control the coronavirus pandemic. Everyone, meet Commander! Prez Joe Biden adds a new puppy to the family, Major to stay with friends Everyone, meet Commander! Prez Joe Biden adds a new puppy to the family, Major to stay with friendsThe first lady's office revealed that a cat will join Commander at the White House in Jan. US Chamber of Commerce chief wants more immigrants to check rising inflation US Chamber of Commerce chief wants more immigrants to check rising inflationUS Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell has flagged the risks associated with entrenched inflation. The central bank will start to tighten the noose around loose interest rates from this year. With its agenda stuck, White House puts focus back on infrastructure, says Joe Biden With its agenda stuck, White House puts focus back on infrastructure, says Joe BidenPresident Joe Biden on Friday tried to put behind recent setbacks on voting rights and his economic agenda by outlining progress made in implementing his $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package.With its agenda stuck, White House puts focus back on infrastructure, says Joe Biden Biden asks businesses to push for COVID-19 shots Biden asks businesses to push for COVID-19 shotsAt a time when hospitals are being overrun and record numbers of people are getting infected with the omicron variant, the administration hopes states and companies will order their own vaccinate-or-test requirements. And if the presidential "bully pulpit"' still counts for persuasion, Biden intends to use it. What arms India arms the US, too What arms India arms the US, tooWhile Nato partner Turkey broke legacy norms by shopping Rosoboronexport products, India's 'historical ties' with Russia are no longer being perceived by the US as a deal-breaker. Containing Covid, unchaining economy Containing Covid, unchaining economyMuch like any health or natural emergency policy, Covid has to be negotiated with in the long term. Knowing when to dial up and dial down localised restrictions is necessary in such a 'permanent plan'. US discourages India from acquiring Russian S-400 missile defence systems: Prez Biden's nominee US discourages India from acquiring Russian S-400 missile defence systems: Prez Biden's nomineeThe US has already imposed sanctions on Turkey under the CAATSA for the purchase of a batch of S-400 missile defence systems from Russia. Following the US sanctions on Turkey over the procurement of S-400 missile systems, there were apprehensions that Washington may impose similar punitive measures on India. Russia has been one of India's key major suppliers of arms and ammunition. US inflation up 7% in 2021, highest level in four decades US inflation up 7% in 2021, highest level in four decadesInflation jumped at its fastest pace in nearly 40 years last month, a 7% spike from a year earlier that is increasing household expenses, eating into wage gains and heaping pressure on President Joe Biden and the Federal Reserve to address what has become the biggest threat to the U.S. economy.US inflation up 7% in 2021, highest level in four decades Watch: President Joe Biden visit hospitalized kids on Christmas Eve Watch: President Joe Biden visit hospitalized kids on Christmas EvePresident Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden brought some Christmas Eve cheer to hospitalized children who aren't well enough to go home for holidays. (AP)Watch: President Joe Biden visit hospitalized kids on Christmas Eve Facebook loses request to throw out US monopoly case Facebook loses request to throw out US monopoly caseUS District Judge James Boasberg in Washington denied Facebook's motion to dismiss the Federal Trade Commission's revised antitrust complaint. Joe Biden says he is likely to run again in 2024 if Trump is his opponent Joe Biden says he is likely to run again in 2024 if Trump is his opponentWhen asked about whether he would stand for re-election, the 79-year-old Democrat responded that he would. "But look," he said. "I'm a great respecter of fate. Fate has intervened in my life many, many times. If I'm in the health I'm in now, if I'm in good health, then in fact I would run again." Biden endorses changing Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation; says 'I'm tired of being quiet' on voting rights Biden endorses changing Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation; says 'I'm tired of being quiet' on voting rightsIn an impassioned speech on protecting voting rights in America, U.S. President Joe Biden declared he's 'tired of being quiet,' and said he backs changing Senate rules to allow action on Democrats' voting bills.Biden endorses changing Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation; says 'I'm tired of being quiet' on voting rights US closely monitoring India-China border dispute: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki US closely monitoring India-China border dispute: White House Press Secretary Jen PsakiPresident Joe Biden's administration is closely monitoring the India-China border dispute, informed White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday (local time), adding that the US is "concerned" by China's attempt to intimidate its neighbours. “We continue to closely monitor the situation. We continue to support dialogue and peaceful resolution of these border disputes. We have been pretty clear how we view Beijing's behavior in region around the world: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on India-China border dispute,” she added.US closely monitoring India-China border dispute: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki President Joe Biden warns of illness and death as omicron surges President Joe Biden warns of illness and death as omicron surgesWarning the omicron variant of the coronavirus "is here," President Joe Biden predicts a "winter of severe illness and death" for those who are still unvaccinated and implores Americans anew to get their shots and boosters. (AP)President Joe Biden warns of illness and death as omicron surges US President Joe Biden extends moratorium on student loan repayments US President Joe Biden extends moratorium on student loan repaymentsThe move is expected to impact the student debt of some 41 million people. "We know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. New York Port hustles to cut rare logjam amid Covid labor woes New York Port hustles to cut rare logjam amid Covid labor woesThe New York area’s port terminals have largely avoided backlogs like those gripping the twin gateways of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, where scores of vessels are still running into delays of more than three weeks to offload. As Omicron variant spreads, Joe Biden announces winter campaign to battle Covid-19 As Omicron variant spreads, Joe Biden announces winter campaign to battle Covid-19US President Joe Biden announced a winter campaign against Covid-19, with new testing requirements for travellers and a surge in vaccination efforts. The winter campaign comes amid the backdrop of the new Omicron variant, which threatens to revive the pandemic. Unveiling a raft of actions designed to tamp down Covid-19 in the coming months, he urged his political rivals- to unite behind the strategy. WatchAs Omicron variant spreads, Joe Biden announces winter campaign to battle Covid-19 Hard times loom for US economy as job growth disappoints Hard times loom for US economy as job growth disappointsAnalysts had forecast a much more robust gain in payrolls, but the result fell far short, instead showing other key metrics like labor market participation and racial employment disparities making little improvement last month. President Joe Biden sounds alarms at health of global democracy President Joe Biden sounds alarms at health of global democracyPresident Joe Biden opens the first White House Summit for Democracy by sounding an alarm about a global slide for democratic institutions and called for world leaders to “lock arms” and demonstrate democracies can deliver. (AP)President Joe Biden sounds alarms at health of global democracy Ten points of tension between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden Ten points of tension between Vladimir Putin and Joe BidenThe United States has accused Russia's ally Belarus of "weaponising" migrants from the Middle East by encouraging thousands of them to try to enter the European Union from its territory, creating a crisis for the EU. Russia has backed Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, including by sending nuclear-capable warplanes to patrol Belarusian airspace. US President Joe Biden talks sanctions, Vladimir Putin warns of rupture over Ukraine US President Joe Biden talks sanctions, Vladimir Putin warns of rupture over UkraineThe two leaders spoke frankly for nearly an hour Thursday amid growing alarm over Russia's troop buildup near Ukraine, a crisis that has deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its insistence on border security guarantees and test-fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands. Biden talks sanctions, Putin warns of rupture over Ukraine Biden talks sanctions, Putin warns of rupture over UkraineWhite House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden "urged Russia to de-escalate tensions with Ukraine" and "made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine." 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Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service Joe Biden The Big Budget SaleGet APP HomeQuickReadsBudget 2022ETPrimeMarketsNewsIndustryRISEPoliticsWealthMFTechJobsOpinionNRIPanacheET NOWPortfolio It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine Caught on hot mic: US president Joe Biden throws expletive at scribe, apologises later but White House lets it slide A reporter had asked Biden whether inflation is a political liability when the gaffe happened. ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden begin high-stakes phone call on Ukraine crisis A State Department travel advisory on Saturday said most American staff at the Kyiv embassy have been ordered to leave and other U.S. citizens should depart the country immediately as well. 'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House The White House said Monday the "path for diplomacy" with Russia remains open, but warned anew, "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time." White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said new Russian forces have been arriving at the border with Ukraine "every day," adding, "it remains unclear" which path Russian President Vladimir Putin will take.'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on Russia to hold a meeting within the next 48 hours to discuss Moscow's military buildup along its borders. Biden in a roughly hour-long call with Zelensky assured of US help to Ukraine any further Russian aggression, according to a White House readout. The call came amid US warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen as soon as this week.Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment President Joe Biden said he had a "very, very, very good meeting" Monday with European allies on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion. Speaking in the White House East Room, Biden there is "total unanimity with all the European leaders" about next steps. The president made the comments during a meeting with his Competition Council, aimed at promoting economic competition and reducing prices for American consumers.Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment US: No 'cause for optimism' after Biden-Putin talks on Ukraine Pentagon spokesman John Kirby offered a grim assessment of the one-hour phone conversation Saturday between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden and Ukraine's Zelenskiy to discuss security on Sunday Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook the two leaders "would discuss the security situation and ongoing diplomatic de-escalation efforts". US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss threat posed by North Korea's nuclear missile test The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. 5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraine's neighboring countries: Poland and Romania. Severe consequences for Russia if it were to move into Ukraine: Joe Biden "I have made it clear early on to President (Vladimir) Putin that if he were to move into Ukraine, there would be severe consequences, including significant economic sanctions, as well as I would feel obliged to beef up our presence -- NATO's presence on the eastern front: Poland, Romania etc.," Biden told reporters. US' Indo-Pacific paper says India strong partner The strategy cites the "mounting challenges" posed by the rise of China as a key driver of the "intensifying American focus" in the Indo-Pacific, with "a strong India" as a partner in a regional vision. U.S. moves to free $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets to aid Afghanistan's people The multi-step plan calls for the other half of the funds to remain in the United States, subject to ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, including relatives of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacking attacks, the sources said. President Joe Biden has long been preparing for a Supreme Court pick Biden said as a presidential candidate that if he were given the chance to nominate someone to the court, he would make history by choosing a Black woman. And word on Wednesday that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire should give Biden that opportunity. Everyone wants to manufacture semiconductors. Now, EU rolls out billion dollar plan The EU move mirrors U.S. President Joe Biden's $52 billion push to invest in a national chip-producing sector to make sure more production occurs in the United States. Angelina Jolie urges US lawmakers to pass domestic violence law, says normalising abuse at home is the 'ugly truth' The star has accused her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, of intentionally hitting their son Maddox. After months of complaint by Elon Musk, Biden acknowledges Tesla "From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other startups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after decades." Joe Biden to meet Qatar leader as energy worries loom in Europe Qatar is one of the world's larger suppliers of liquefied natural gas and is among countries that the US is hoping could aid Europe should a Russian invasion of Ukraine lead to Moscow stemming the flow of energy. Biden's pandemic fight: Inside the setbacks of the first year Vaccines had been the core of President Joe Biden's pandemic strategy from the moment he took office. But as Walensky was briefed about a cluster of breakthrough cases in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the reality sank in. The delta variant, which had ravaged other parts of the world, was taking hold in the United States. And being vaccinated would not, it turned out, prevent people from becoming infected with the variant or transmitting it. Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. Joe Biden comforts victims of Colorado wildfire Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not speculate on further steps his administration is willing to take amid ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine. As he returned to the White House, Biden told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin was seeking "things he cannot get" from ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US president Joe Biden sending more troops to Europe amid Ukraine tension Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine's borders, including in neighbouring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. US Covid related death toll passes grim milestone due to Omicron surge President Biden's approval rating hits new low at one year mark, according to AP-NORC poll The latest poll shows that Americans' confidence in Biden's handling of the pandemic - seen as a strength early in his administration - has further eroded as the omicron variant strains the health care system and further exhausts an American electorate that had hoped life would be back to a semblance of normalcy by now. Biden says 'not there yet' on lifting China tariffs "I'd like to be in a position where I can say they're meeting the commitments, more of their commitments and be able to lift some of it," Biden said. President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Seeking to clarify his comments a day earlier that a “minor incursion” by Russia would elicit a lesser response, President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he will pay "a heavy price" for any aggressive action toward Ukraine. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Explainer: Why Europe lacks voice, power in Ukraine crisis Scarred by losing tens of millions of lives on their soil in two world wars, many European Union nations have been wary ever since about military spending. Now, as Russian pressure builds at the Ukrainian border, they face a painful reality: Europe remains heavily reliant on U.S. might to deter another potentially big conflict on its turf. Indian-American body urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pak envoy to US A top Indian diaspora group has urged US President Joe Biden to reject the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, alleging that the diplomat is a sympathiser and supporter of terrorist groups. Fed nominees say inflation is 'grave threat,' vow to fight "Our most important task is tackling inflation," Michigan State University economics professor Lisa Cook, one of three Fed nominees up for a confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate on Thursday, said in her prepared remarks. US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House The White House announced Wednesday President Joe Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 more from Germany to Romania, demonstrating to both allies and foes America's commitment to NATO's eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House Congressman urges Biden to reject Pak's ambassador-designate; terms him ‘terrorist sympathiser' Khan, who has previously served as the “president” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) until August last year, was nominated as Pakistan's ambassador to the US in November. View: One year of Joe Biden On the plus side, the US rejoined the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO), extended the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia for five years, led the effort to institute a global minimum tax on corporations, re-engaged allies and partners, held the first Quad summit and persuaded the EU to put the China trade deal on ice. Joe Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin Biden faces a complicated and globally more dangerous task: keeping the West unified as it faces what White House officials say is an increasingly likely further invasion of Ukrainian territory. President Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron President Joe Biden announced Thursday the government will distribute 1 billion rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests free to Americans, along with the most protective N95 masks, as the White House looks to fight the spike in coronavirus casesPresident Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron US president Joe Biden answers inflation query by calling Fox reporter SOB His comments were captured on video and by the microphone in front of him. Doocy laughed it off in a subsequent appearance on his network, joking, "Nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true." Meet Willow, the newest addition to the Biden family The green-eyed canine joins long and varied line of White House pets. Russia's risky options following Ukraine attack Russia, which is seeking a pledge that NATO won't expand to include Ukraine, has options it could pursue short of a full-blown invasion, and other ways to lash out at the U.S. and its allies. All of them carry varying degrees of risk, to Russia and the world. France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to sit down for talks in two weeks, an effort aimed at reviving a 2015 agreement to ease the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Some fear this complicates efforts by the U.S. and NATO to show a united front against Russia. President Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' President Biden visited a bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh just hours before his visit to deliver remarks on infrastructure. The president pledged to rebuild it and fix other bridges across the countryPresident Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' Joe Biden administration to scrap Trump plan for wider Alaska oil drilling Official notice of the change will come in a notice to be filed on Monday in federal court in Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of Department of the Interior, said in a statement. U.S. economy likely regained steam in Q4, 2021 growth seen best in 37 years U.S. economic growth likely accelerated in the fourth quarter as businesses replenished depleted inventories to meet strong demand for goods, helping the nation to log its best performance in nearly four decades in 2021. North Korea fires two suspected missiles in 6th launch in 2022 North Korea has upped its testing activity recently in an apparent effort to pressure the Joe Biden administration in the US amid long-stalled nuclear talks. US delivers written response to Russia's security demands Washington has made clear that Russian demands for NATO to pull back troops and weapons from eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever joining are non-starters. It says it is ready to discuss other topics such as arms control and confidence-building measures. Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin President Joe Biden's effort to rally support, both at home and abroad, ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is just the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. U.S. companies push Biden, Congress for caution on Russia sanctions A trade group representing Chevron, General Electric and other big U.S. corporations that do business in Russia is asking the White House to consider allowing companies to fulfill commitments and to weigh exempting products as it crafts any sanctions. At the same time, big energy companies are pushing Congress to limit their scope and time frame. Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensions Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensionsWith the West already accusing Moscow of massing more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border, the Russian military said it had launched drills involving 6,000 troops in the south and in the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: USThe U.S. State department said if Russia invades Ukraine, it would be met by a response that's not only "swift, severe and united," but also "unprecedented in its approach." Earlier, President Joe Biden told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to build forces along Ukraine’s border,” and an attack “would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.”'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be needed Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be neededA COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the Omicron variant would be "prudent" even if it ultimately may not be needed, the top U.S. infectious disease official said on Tuesday as Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE announced such a clinical trial. US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflationPresident Joe Biden called on the Federal Reserve to do more to fight inflation by pulling back on its monetary boosting of the US economy.US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worryPutting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine. Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022 Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022From Europe to the U.S. and China, production and transportation have stayed bogged down in the early days of 2022 by labor and parts shortages, in part because of the fast-spreading omicron variant. White House to hold second Competition Council meet White House to hold second Competition Council meetThe White House did not confirm the meeting would take place but said President Joe Biden would meet on Monday "with members of his administration on efforts to lower prices for working families." Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involvedUkraine's layered history offers a window into the complex nation it is today - and why it is continuously under threat. As an Eastern Europe expert, I highlight five key points to keep in mind. Joe Biden to deliver first State of the Union address on March 1 Joe Biden to deliver first State of the Union address on March 1The speech is normally timed for January, and occasionally for February. The delay is driven in part by a busy legislative calendar, a winter spike in COVID-19 cases from the more transmissible omicron variant and the upcoming Winter Olympics, which ties up broadcast network time. Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pill Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pillPresident Joe Biden urged concern but not alarm Tuesday as the U.S. set new records for daily reported COVID-19 cases and his administration struggled to ease concerns about testing shortages, school closures and other disruptions caused by the surging omicron variant. The United States government doubled its order for Pfizer’s COVID pills on Tuesday, a move that will modestly increase the nation’s very limited supplies of the treatment in the short term amid a record-setting surge in coronavirus cases.Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pill Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning' Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning'U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday hailed an announcement by Intel Corp. that it will construct a $20 billion factory outside Columbus, Ohio, creating 7,000 construction jobs and an additional 3,000 permanent jobs. Intel is the latest semiconductor company to announce expansion plans in the U.S. amid a global shortage of the chips used in phones, cars and video games. Biden said the announcement shows the U.S. is "in a better position than any nation...to seize these opportunities," and he hailed the passage of his bipartisan infrastructure legislation as one of the reasons.Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning' Biden and Kishida agree to 'push back' China's attempts to change status quo in East China Sea, SCS Biden and Kishida agree to 'push back' China's attempts to

Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine Caught on hot mic: US president Joe Biden throws expletive at scribe, apologises later but White House lets it slide A reporter had asked Biden whether inflation is a political liability when the gaffe happened. ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden begin high-stakes phone call on Ukraine crisis A State Department travel advisory on Saturday said most American staff at the Kyiv embassy have been ordered to leave and other U.S. citizens should depart the country immediately as well. 'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House The White House said Monday the "path for diplomacy" with Russia remains open, but warned anew, "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time." White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said new Russian forces have been arriving at the border with Ukraine "every day," adding, "it remains unclear" which path Russian President Vladimir Putin will take.'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on Russia to hold a meeting within the next 48 hours to discuss Moscow's military buildup along its borders. Biden in a roughly hour-long call with Zelensky assured of US help to Ukraine any further Russian aggression, according to a White House readout. The call came amid US warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen as soon as this week.Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment President Joe Biden said he had a "very, very, very good meeting" Monday with European allies on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion. Speaking in the White House East Room, Biden there is "total unanimity with all the European leaders" about next steps. The president made the comments during a meeting with his Competition Council, aimed at promoting economic competition and reducing prices for American consumers.Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment US: No 'cause for optimism' after Biden-Putin talks on Ukraine Pentagon spokesman John Kirby offered a grim assessment of the one-hour phone conversation Saturday between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden and Ukraine's Zelenskiy to discuss security on Sunday Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook the two leaders "would discuss the security situation and ongoing diplomatic de-escalation efforts". US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss threat posed by North Korea's nuclear missile test The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. 5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraine's neighboring countries: Poland and Romania. Severe consequences for Russia if it were to move into Ukraine: Joe Biden "I have made it clear early on to President (Vladimir) Putin that if he were to move into Ukraine, there would be severe consequences, including significant economic sanctions, as well as I would feel obliged to beef up our presence -- NATO's presence on the eastern front: Poland, Romania etc.," Biden told reporters. US' Indo-Pacific paper says India strong partner The strategy cites the "mounting challenges" posed by the rise of China as a key driver of the "intensifying American focus" in the Indo-Pacific, with "a strong India" as a partner in a regional vision. U.S. moves to free $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets to aid Afghanistan's people The multi-step plan calls for the other half of the funds to remain in the United States, subject to ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, including relatives of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacking attacks, the sources said. President Joe Biden has long been preparing for a Supreme Court pick Biden said as a presidential candidate that if he were given the chance to nominate someone to the court, he would make history by choosing a Black woman. And word on Wednesday that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire should give Biden that opportunity. Everyone wants to manufacture semiconductors. Now, EU rolls out billion dollar plan The EU move mirrors U.S. President Joe Biden's $52 billion push to invest in a national chip-producing sector to make sure more production occurs in the United States. Angelina Jolie urges US lawmakers to pass domestic violence law, says normalising abuse at home is the 'ugly truth' The star has accused her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, of intentionally hitting their son Maddox. After months of complaint by Elon Musk, Biden acknowledges Tesla "From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other startups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after decades." Joe Biden to meet Qatar leader as energy worries loom in Europe Qatar is one of the world's larger suppliers of liquefied natural gas and is among countries that the US is hoping could aid Europe should a Russian invasion of Ukraine lead to Moscow stemming the flow of energy. Biden's pandemic fight: Inside the setbacks of the first year Vaccines had been the core of President Joe Biden's pandemic strategy from the moment he took office. But as Walensky was briefed about a cluster of breakthrough cases in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the reality sank in. The delta variant, which had ravaged other parts of the world, was taking hold in the United States. And being vaccinated would not, it turned out, prevent people from becoming infected with the variant or transmitting it. Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. Joe Biden comforts victims of Colorado wildfire Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not speculate on further steps his administration is willing to take amid ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine. As he returned to the White House, Biden told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin was seeking "things he cannot get" from ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US president Joe Biden sending more troops to Europe amid Ukraine tension Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine's borders, including in neighbouring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. US Covid related death toll passes grim milestone due to Omicron surge President Biden's approval rating hits new low at one year mark, according to AP-NORC poll The latest poll shows that Americans' confidence in Biden's handling of the pandemic - seen as a strength early in his administration - has further eroded as the omicron variant strains the health care system and further exhausts an American electorate that had hoped life would be back to a semblance of normalcy by now. Biden says 'not there yet' on lifting China tariffs "I'd like to be in a position where I can say they're meeting the commitments, more of their commitments and be able to lift some of it," Biden said. President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Seeking to clarify his comments a day earlier that a “minor incursion” by Russia would elicit a lesser response, President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he will pay "a heavy price" for any aggressive action toward Ukraine. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Explainer: Why Europe lacks voice, power in Ukraine crisis Scarred by losing tens of millions of lives on their soil in two world wars, many European Union nations have been wary ever since about military spending. Now, as Russian pressure builds at the Ukrainian border, they face a painful reality: Europe remains heavily reliant on U.S. might to deter another potentially big conflict on its turf. Indian-American body urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pak envoy to US A top Indian diaspora group has urged US President Joe Biden to reject the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, alleging that the diplomat is a sympathiser and supporter of terrorist groups. Fed nominees say inflation is 'grave threat,' vow to fight "Our most important task is tackling inflation," Michigan State University economics professor Lisa Cook, one of three Fed nominees up for a confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate on Thursday, said in her prepared remarks. US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House The White House announced Wednesday President Joe Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 more from Germany to Romania, demonstrating to both allies and foes America's commitment to NATO's eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House Congressman urges Biden to reject Pak's ambassador-designate; terms him ‘terrorist sympathiser' Khan, who has previously served as the “president” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) until August last year, was nominated as Pakistan's ambassador to the US in November. View: One year of Joe Biden On the plus side, the US rejoined the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO), extended the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia for five years, led the effort to institute a global minimum tax on corporations, re-engaged allies and partners, held the first Quad summit and persuaded the EU to put the China trade deal on ice. Joe Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin Biden faces a complicated and globally more dangerous task: keeping the West unified as it faces what White House officials say is an increasingly likely further invasion of Ukrainian territory. President Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron President Joe Biden announced Thursday the government will distribute 1 billion rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests free to Americans, along with the most protective N95 masks, as the White House looks to fight the spike in coronavirus casesPresident Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron US president Joe Biden answers inflation query by calling Fox reporter SOB His comments were captured on video and by the microphone in front of him. Doocy laughed it off in a subsequent appearance on his network, joking, "Nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true." Meet Willow, the newest addition to the Biden family The green-eyed canine joins long and varied line of White House pets. Russia's risky options following Ukraine attack Russia, which is seeking a pledge that NATO won't expand to include Ukraine, has options it could pursue short of a full-blown invasion, and other ways to lash out at the U.S. and its allies. All of them carry varying degrees of risk, to Russia and the world. France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to sit down for talks in two weeks, an effort aimed at reviving a 2015 agreement to ease the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Some fear this complicates efforts by the U.S. and NATO to show a united front against Russia. President Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' President Biden visited a bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh just hours before his visit to deliver remarks on infrastructure. The president pledged to rebuild it and fix other bridges across the countryPresident Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' Joe Biden administration to scrap Trump plan for wider Alaska oil drilling Official notice of the change will come in a notice to be filed on Monday in federal court in Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of Department of the Interior, said in a statement. U.S. economy likely regained steam in Q4, 2021 growth seen best in 37 years U.S. economic growth likely accelerated in the fourth quarter as businesses replenished depleted inventories to meet strong demand for goods, helping the nation to log its best performance in nearly four decades in 2021. North Korea fires two suspected missiles in 6th launch in 2022 North Korea has upped its testing activity recently in an apparent effort to pressure the Joe Biden administration in the US amid long-stalled nuclear talks. US delivers written response to Russia's security demands Washington has made clear that Russian demands for NATO to pull back troops and weapons from eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever joining are non-starters. It says it is ready to discuss other topics such as arms control and confidence-building measures. Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin President Joe Biden's effort to rally support, both at home and abroad, ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is just the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. U.S. companies push Biden, Congress for caution on Russia sanctions A trade group representing Chevron, General Electric and other big U.S. corporations that do business in Russia is asking the White House to consider allowing companies to fulfill commitments and to weigh exempting products as it crafts any sanctions. At the same time, big energy companies are pushing Congress to limit their scope and time frame. Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensions Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensionsWith the West already accusing Moscow of massing more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border, the Russian military said it had launched drills involving 6,000 troops in the south and in the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: USThe U.S. State department said if Russia invades Ukraine, it would be met by a response that's not only "swift, severe and united," but also "unprecedented in its approach." Earlier, President Joe Biden told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to build forces along Ukraine’s border,” and an attack “would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.”'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be needed Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be neededA COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the Omicron variant would be "prudent" even if it ultimately may not be needed, the top U.S. infectious disease official said on Tuesday as Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE announced such a clinical trial. US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflationPresident Joe Biden called on the Federal Reserve to do more to fight inflation by pulling back on its monetary boosting of the US economy.US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worryPutting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine. Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022 Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022From Europe to the U.S. and China, production and transportation have stayed bogged down in the early days of 2022 by labor and parts shortages, in part because of the fast-spreading omicron variant. White House to hold second Competition Council meet White House to hold second Competition Council meetThe White House did not confirm the meeting would take place but said President Joe Biden would meet on Monday "with members of his administration on efforts to lower prices for working families." Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involvedUkraine's layered history offers a window into the complex nation it is today - and why it is continuously under threat. As an Eastern Europe expert, I highlight five key points to keep in mind. Joe Biden to deliver first State of the Union address on March 1 Joe Biden to deliver first State of the Union address on March 1The speech is normally timed for January, and occasionally for February. The delay is driven in part by a busy legislative calendar, a winter spike in COVID-19 cases from the more transmissible omicron variant and the upcoming Winter Olympics, which ties up broadcast network time. Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pill Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pillPresident Joe Biden urged concern but not alarm Tuesday as the U.S. set new records for daily reported COVID-19 cases and his administration struggled to ease concerns about testing shortages, school closures and other disruptions caused by the surging omicron variant. The United States government doubled its order for Pfizer’s COVID pills on Tuesday, a move that will modestly increase the nation’s very limited supplies of the treatment in the short term amid a record-setting surge in coronavirus cases.Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pill Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning' Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning'U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday hailed an announcement by Intel Corp. that it will construct a $20 billion factory outside Columbus, Ohio, creating 7,000 construction jobs and an additional 3,000 permanent jobs. Intel is the latest semiconductor company to announce expansion plans in the U.S. amid a global shortage of the chips used in phones, cars and video games. Biden said the announcement shows the U.S. is "in a better position than any nation...to seize these opportunities," and he hailed the passage of his bipartisan infrastructure legislation as one of the reasons.Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning' Biden and Kishida agree to 'push back' China's attempts to change status quo in East China Sea, SCS Biden and Kishida agree to 'push back' China's attempts to change status quo in East China Sea, SCSUS President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have agreed to "push back" against China's attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and highlighted the importance of the Quad grouping as a critical forum for promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Indian-origin head of White House military office quits citing personal reasons Indian-origin head of White House military office quits citing personal reasonsMaju Varghese, the Indian-origin director of the White House Military Office, has quit his post, citing personal reasons. In a series of tweets on Saturday, Varghese said leading the White House Military Office (WHMO) was the honour of a lifetime. US delivers around 2 lakh pounds of lethal aid to Ukraine US delivers around 2 lakh pounds of lethal aid to UkraineThe United States has delivered around 200,000 pounds of lethal aid to Ukraine as part of its first shipment of new military assistance directed by President Biden amid tensions at the Ukrainian-Russian border, the US embassy in Kiev said Biden plans new effort to retain international science and tech students Biden plans new effort to retain international science and tech studentsA program allowing those on student visas to stay for an extended period of training will also be expanded to areas such as data science, cloud computing and data visualization. "Other countries, most notably China, are using STEM talent to try to supplant the United States as the world's foremost scientific and technological innovator," one of the officials told reporters. World worse now due to COVID, climate, conflict: U.N. secretary-general, Antonio Guterres World worse now due to COVID, climate, conflict: U.N. secretary-general, Antonio GuterresGuterres said the U.N. Security Council, which does have the power to uphold international peace and security including by imposing sanctions and ordering military action, is divided, especially its five veto-wielding permanent members. Russia and China are often at odds with the U.S., Britain and France on key issues, including Thursday on new sanctions against North Korea. 'Minor incursion' by Russia could complicate West's response 'Minor incursion' by Russia could complicate West's responseAmong the possibilities for limited Russian military action: Putin could move much of the Russian ground force away from the border but further bolster the separatists who control the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. That conflict has killed more than 14,000 people in nearly eight years of fighting. Kamala Harris will be his running mate in 2024, says President Biden Kamala Harris will be his running mate in 2024, says President BidenUS President Joe Biden has said that Vice President Kamala Harris would be his running mate if he stood for office again in 2024. President Biden made this emphatic assertion on Wednesday amid US media reports alleging dysfunction among her staff and doubt on her standing within the administration. Joe Biden shied away from news conferences, interviews in Year 1 Joe Biden shied away from news conferences, interviews in Year 1"I'm not supposed to be having this press conference right now," Biden said at the end of a meandering response that didn't directly answer the question about the West Virginia Democrat. Biden says Fed should 'recalibrate' policy as prices rise Biden says Fed should 'recalibrate' policy as prices riseFed policymakers have signaled they will raise interest rates several times this year, likely starting in March, to try to rein in inflation that's rising at its fastest pace in nearly 40 years. A reduction in the Fed's $8 trillion balance sheet could soon follow. President Biden confirms Kamala Harris would be running mate in 2024 President Biden confirms Kamala Harris would be running mate in 2024In mid-December, Harris said she and Biden had not yet discussed the 2024 election, amid speculation she may not be in the running for the White House if Biden chose not to stand again. 1 year in: Biden ready to talk through progress, setbacks 1 year in: Biden ready to talk through progress, setbacksStill, it is a perilous time for Biden: The nation is gripped by another disruptive surge of virus cases and inflation is at a level not seen in a generation. Biden's approval rating has fallen sharply over his first year in office and Democrats are bracing for a potential midterm rout if he can't turn things around. US is said to examine Alibaba's cloud unit for national security risks US is said to examine Alibaba's cloud unit for national security risksThe focus of the probe is on how Alibaba's cloud unit stores US clients' data, including personal information and intellectual property, and whether the Chinese government could gain access to it. Biden year one takeaways: Grand ambitions, humbling defeats Biden year one takeaways: Grand ambitions, humbling defeatsJoe Biden's long arc in public life has always had one final ambition: to sit behind the Resolute Desk of the Oval Office. He achieved it - albeit, at 78, as the oldest person to assume the US presidency. After the turbulence and chaos of his predecessor, Donald Trump, Biden was seen by voters as one who could restore a sense of normalcy and a reassuring tone to the White House. Joe Biden calls Donald Trump threat to democracy on anniversary of Capitol attack Joe Biden calls Donald Trump threat to democracy on anniversary of Capitol attackSpeaking at the white-domed building that was the scene of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, Biden warned that Trump's false claims that the election was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud could unravel the rule of law and undermine future elections. Saudi energy minister: It's U.S. prerogative to draw on strategic oil reserves Saudi energy minister: It's U.S. prerogative to draw on strategic oil reservesSaudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Monday that it was up to the United States whether or not it would release more supply from strategic petroleum reserves. Saudi energy minister says he is 'always comfortable' with oil prices Saudi energy minister says he is 'always comfortable' with oil pricesPresident Joe Biden's administration said in November it would release about 50 million barrels from its reserves in conjunction with other consumer nations, such as China, India and South Korea, to combat the rising cost of fuel. US to provide 500 million home tests as Omicron surges: President Joe Biden US to provide 500 million home tests as Omicron surges: President Joe BidenFighting the omicron variant surging through the U.S., President Joe Biden is redoubling vaccination and boosting efforts and announced Tuesday that the government would provide 500 million free rapid testsUS to provide 500 million home tests as Omicron surges: President Joe Biden Trump rallies faithful at 'MAGA Woodstock' Trump rallies faithful at 'MAGA Woodstock'Some of the faithful had arrived in the area days in advance from as far away as Florida or Texas, waiting to hear the former president trot out a familiar list of grievances. Their patience was soon rewarded. "We are done having our lives controlled by politicians in Washington. We are done with the mandates," he said, in reference to rules brought in to control the coronavirus pandemic. Everyone, meet Commander! Prez Joe Biden adds a new puppy to the family, Major to stay with friends Everyone, meet Commander! Prez Joe Biden adds a new puppy to the family, Major to stay with friendsThe first lady's office revealed that a cat will join Commander at the White House in Jan. US Chamber of Commerce chief wants more immigrants to check rising inflation US Chamber of Commerce chief wants more immigrants to check rising inflationUS Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell has flagged the risks associated with entrenched inflation. The central bank will start to tighten the noose around loose interest rates from this year. With its agenda stuck, White House puts focus back on infrastructure, says Joe Biden With its agenda stuck, White House puts focus back on infrastructure, says Joe BidenPresident Joe Biden on Friday tried to put behind recent setbacks on voting rights and his economic agenda by outlining progress made in implementing his $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package.With its agenda stuck, White House puts focus back on infrastructure, says Joe Biden Biden asks businesses to push for COVID-19 shots Biden asks businesses to push for COVID-19 shotsAt a time when hospitals are being overrun and record numbers of people are getting infected with the omicron variant, the administration hopes states and companies will order their own vaccinate-or-test requirements. And if the presidential "bully pulpit"' still counts for persuasion, Biden intends to use it. What arms India arms the US, too What arms India arms the US, tooWhile Nato partner Turkey broke legacy norms by shopping Rosoboronexport products, India's 'historical ties' with Russia are no longer being perceived by the US as a deal-breaker. Containing Covid, unchaining economy Containing Covid, unchaining economyMuch like any health or natural emergency policy, Covid has to be negotiated with in the long term. Knowing when to dial up and dial down localised restrictions is necessary in such a 'permanent plan'. US discourages India from acquiring Russian S-400 missile defence systems: Prez Biden's nominee US discourages India from acquiring Russian S-400 missile defence systems: Prez Biden's nomineeThe US has already imposed sanctions on Turkey under the CAATSA for the purchase of a batch of S-400 missile defence systems from Russia. Following the US sanctions on Turkey over the procurement of S-400 missile systems, there were apprehensions that Washington may impose similar punitive measures on India. Russia has been one of India's key major suppliers of arms and ammunition. US inflation up 7% in 2021, highest level in four decades US inflation up 7% in 2021, highest level in four decadesInflation jumped at its fastest pace in nearly 40 years last month, a 7% spike from a year earlier that is increasing household expenses, eating into wage gains and heaping pressure on President Joe Biden and the Federal Reserve to address what has become the biggest threat to the U.S. economy.US inflation up 7% in 2021, highest level in four decades Watch: President Joe Biden visit hospitalized kids on Christmas Eve Watch: President Joe Biden visit hospitalized kids on Christmas EvePresident Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden brought some Christmas Eve cheer to hospitalized children who aren't well enough to go home for holidays. (AP)Watch: President Joe Biden visit hospitalized kids on Christmas Eve Facebook loses request to throw out US monopoly case Facebook loses request to throw out US monopoly caseUS District Judge James Boasberg in Washington denied Facebook's motion to dismiss the Federal Trade Commission's revised antitrust complaint. Joe Biden says he is likely to run again in 2024 if Trump is his opponent Joe Biden says he is likely to run again in 2024 if Trump is his opponentWhen asked about whether he would stand for re-election, the 79-year-old Democrat responded that he would. "But look," he said. "I'm a great respecter of fate. Fate has intervened in my life many, many times. If I'm in the health I'm in now, if I'm in good health, then in fact I would run again." Biden endorses changing Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation; says 'I'm tired of being quiet' on voting rights Biden endorses changing Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation; says 'I'm tired of being quiet' on voting rightsIn an impassioned speech on protecting voting rights in America, U.S. President Joe Biden declared he's 'tired of being quiet,' and said he backs changing Senate rules to allow action on Democrats' voting bills.Biden endorses changing Senate rules to pass voting rights legislation; says 'I'm tired of being quiet' on voting rights US closely monitoring India-China border dispute: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki US closely monitoring India-China border dispute: White House Press Secretary Jen PsakiPresident Joe Biden's administration is closely monitoring the India-China border dispute, informed White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday (local time), adding that the US is "concerned" by China's attempt to intimidate its neighbours. “We continue to closely monitor the situation. We continue to support dialogue and peaceful resolution of these border disputes. We have been pretty clear how we view Beijing's behavior in region around the world: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on India-China border dispute,” she added.US closely monitoring India-China border dispute: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki President Joe Biden warns of illness and death as omicron surges President Joe Biden warns of illness and death as omicron surgesWarning the omicron variant of the coronavirus "is here," President Joe Biden predicts a "winter of severe illness and death" for those who are still unvaccinated and implores Americans anew to get their shots and boosters. (AP)President Joe Biden warns of illness and death as omicron surges US President Joe Biden extends moratorium on student loan repayments US President Joe Biden extends moratorium on student loan repaymentsThe move is expected to impact the student debt of some 41 million people. "We know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. New York Port hustles to cut rare logjam amid Covid labor woes New York Port hustles to cut rare logjam amid Covid labor woesThe New York area’s port terminals have largely avoided backlogs like those gripping the twin gateways of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, where scores of vessels are still running into delays of more than three weeks to offload. As Omicron variant spreads, Joe Biden announces winter campaign to battle Covid-19 As Omicron variant spreads, Joe Biden announces winter campaign to battle Covid-19US President Joe Biden announced a winter campaign against Covid-19, with new testing requirements for travellers and a surge in vaccination efforts. The winter campaign comes amid the backdrop of the new Omicron variant, which threatens to revive the pandemic. Unveiling a raft of actions designed to tamp down Covid-19 in the coming months, he urged his political rivals- to unite behind the strategy. WatchAs Omicron variant spreads, Joe Biden announces winter campaign to battle Covid-19 Hard times loom for US economy as job growth disappoints Hard times loom for US economy as job growth disappointsAnalysts had forecast a much more robust gain in payrolls, but the result fell far short, instead showing other key metrics like labor market participation and racial employment disparities making little improvement last month. President Joe Biden sounds alarms at health of global democracy President Joe Biden sounds alarms at health of global democracyPresident Joe Biden opens the first White House Summit for Democracy by sounding an alarm about a global slide for democratic institutions and called for world leaders to “lock arms” and demonstrate democracies can deliver. (AP)President Joe Biden sounds alarms at health of global democracy Ten points of tension between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden Ten points of tension between Vladimir Putin and Joe BidenThe United States has accused Russia's ally Belarus of "weaponising" migrants from the Middle East by encouraging thousands of them to try to enter the European Union from its territory, creating a crisis for the EU. Russia has backed Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, including by sending nuclear-capable warplanes to patrol Belarusian airspace. US President Joe Biden talks sanctions, Vladimir Putin warns of rupture over Ukraine US President Joe Biden talks sanctions, Vladimir Putin warns of rupture over UkraineThe two leaders spoke frankly for nearly an hour Thursday amid growing alarm over Russia's troop buildup near Ukraine, a crisis that has deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its insistence on border security guarantees and test-fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands. Biden talks sanctions, Putin warns of rupture over Ukraine Biden talks sanctions, Putin warns of rupture over UkraineWhite House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden "urged Russia to de-escalate tensions with Ukraine" and "made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine." 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Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service Joe Biden The Big Budget SaleGet APP HomeQuickReadsBudget 2022ETPrimeMarketsNewsIndustryRISEPoliticsWealthMFTechJobsOpinionNRIPanacheET NOWPortfolio It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden President Joe Biden said Monday "it'd be wise" for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat. Biden made his comments during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House, shortly after the two leaders met for talks about the simmering crisis.It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine: Joe Biden View: Ukraine, a second test for Joe Biden European allies are all over the map on how to handle the crisis with the three biggest - Germany, France and Britain - pulling in different directions. The rest are lining up depending on their geography and history with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to speak as Ukraine warnings mount Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis Biden planned once again to call on Putin to de-escalate and pull back the well over 100,000 Russia troops that have massed near Ukraine's borders. ADVERTISEMENT President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin of 'severe costs' of invading Ukraine Caught on hot mic: US president Joe Biden throws expletive at scribe, apologises later but White House lets it slide A reporter had asked Biden whether inflation is a political liability when the gaffe happened. ADVERTISEMENT Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden begin high-stakes phone call on Ukraine crisis A State Department travel advisory on Saturday said most American staff at the Kyiv embassy have been ordered to leave and other U.S. citizens should depart the country immediately as well. 'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House The White House said Monday the "path for diplomacy" with Russia remains open, but warned anew, "we are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time." White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said new Russian forces have been arriving at the border with Ukraine "every day," adding, "it remains unclear" which path Russian President Vladimir Putin will take.'Path for diplomacy' with Russia remains open: White House Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on Russia to hold a meeting within the next 48 hours to discuss Moscow's military buildup along its borders. Biden in a roughly hour-long call with Zelensky assured of US help to Ukraine any further Russian aggression, according to a White House readout. The call came amid US warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen as soon as this week.Ukraine seeks meeting with Russia; US warns of the Russian invasion Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment President Joe Biden said he had a "very, very, very good meeting" Monday with European allies on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion. Speaking in the White House East Room, Biden there is "total unanimity with all the European leaders" about next steps. The president made the comments during a meeting with his Competition Council, aimed at promoting economic competition and reducing prices for American consumers.Joe Biden lashes out at Fox reporter in hot mic moment US: No 'cause for optimism' after Biden-Putin talks on Ukraine Pentagon spokesman John Kirby offered a grim assessment of the one-hour phone conversation Saturday between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden and Ukraine's Zelenskiy to discuss security on Sunday Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook the two leaders "would discuss the security situation and ongoing diplomatic de-escalation efforts". US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss threat posed by North Korea's nuclear missile test The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. 5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraine's neighboring countries: Poland and Romania. Severe consequences for Russia if it were to move into Ukraine: Joe Biden "I have made it clear early on to President (Vladimir) Putin that if he were to move into Ukraine, there would be severe consequences, including significant economic sanctions, as well as I would feel obliged to beef up our presence -- NATO's presence on the eastern front: Poland, Romania etc.," Biden told reporters. US' Indo-Pacific paper says India strong partner The strategy cites the "mounting challenges" posed by the rise of China as a key driver of the "intensifying American focus" in the Indo-Pacific, with "a strong India" as a partner in a regional vision. U.S. moves to free $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets to aid Afghanistan's people The multi-step plan calls for the other half of the funds to remain in the United States, subject to ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, including relatives of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacking attacks, the sources said. President Joe Biden has long been preparing for a Supreme Court pick Biden said as a presidential candidate that if he were given the chance to nominate someone to the court, he would make history by choosing a Black woman. And word on Wednesday that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to retire should give Biden that opportunity. Everyone wants to manufacture semiconductors. Now, EU rolls out billion dollar plan The EU move mirrors U.S. President Joe Biden's $52 billion push to invest in a national chip-producing sector to make sure more production occurs in the United States. Angelina Jolie urges US lawmakers to pass domestic violence law, says normalising abuse at home is the 'ugly truth' The star has accused her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, of intentionally hitting their son Maddox. After months of complaint by Elon Musk, Biden acknowledges Tesla "From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other startups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after decades." Joe Biden to meet Qatar leader as energy worries loom in Europe Qatar is one of the world's larger suppliers of liquefied natural gas and is among countries that the US is hoping could aid Europe should a Russian invasion of Ukraine lead to Moscow stemming the flow of energy. Biden's pandemic fight: Inside the setbacks of the first year Vaccines had been the core of President Joe Biden's pandemic strategy from the moment he took office. But as Walensky was briefed about a cluster of breakthrough cases in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the reality sank in. The delta variant, which had ravaged other parts of the world, was taking hold in the United States. And being vaccinated would not, it turned out, prevent people from becoming infected with the variant or transmitting it. Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily. Joe Biden comforts victims of Colorado wildfire Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US President Joe Biden said Sunday he would not speculate on further steps his administration is willing to take amid ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine. As he returned to the White House, Biden told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin was seeking "things he cannot get" from ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.Ukraine tensions: Biden says Putin is after 'things he cannot get' US president Joe Biden sending more troops to Europe amid Ukraine tension Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine's borders, including in neighbouring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. US Covid related death toll passes grim milestone due to Omicron surge President Biden's approval rating hits new low at one year mark, according to AP-NORC poll The latest poll shows that Americans' confidence in Biden's handling of the pandemic - seen as a strength early in his administration - has further eroded as the omicron variant strains the health care system and further exhausts an American electorate that had hoped life would be back to a semblance of normalcy by now. Biden says 'not there yet' on lifting China tariffs "I'd like to be in a position where I can say they're meeting the commitments, more of their commitments and be able to lift some of it," Biden said. President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Seeking to clarify his comments a day earlier that a “minor incursion” by Russia would elicit a lesser response, President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he will pay "a heavy price" for any aggressive action toward Ukraine. (AP)President Joe Biden warns Putin on any aggression toward Ukraine Explainer: Why Europe lacks voice, power in Ukraine crisis Scarred by losing tens of millions of lives on their soil in two world wars, many European Union nations have been wary ever since about military spending. Now, as Russian pressure builds at the Ukrainian border, they face a painful reality: Europe remains heavily reliant on U.S. might to deter another potentially big conflict on its turf. Indian-American body urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pak envoy to US A top Indian diaspora group has urged US President Joe Biden to reject the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, alleging that the diplomat is a sympathiser and supporter of terrorist groups. Fed nominees say inflation is 'grave threat,' vow to fight "Our most important task is tackling inflation," Michigan State University economics professor Lisa Cook, one of three Fed nominees up for a confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate on Thursday, said in her prepared remarks. US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House The White House announced Wednesday President Joe Biden is ordering 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 more from Germany to Romania, demonstrating to both allies and foes America's commitment to NATO's eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.US troops heading to Europe to reassure allies: White House Congressman urges Biden to reject Pak's ambassador-designate; terms him ‘terrorist sympathiser' Khan, who has previously served as the “president” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) until August last year, was nominated as Pakistan's ambassador to the US in November. View: One year of Joe Biden On the plus side, the US rejoined the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO), extended the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia for five years, led the effort to institute a global minimum tax on corporations, re-engaged allies and partners, held the first Quad summit and persuaded the EU to put the China trade deal on ice. Joe Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin Biden faces a complicated and globally more dangerous task: keeping the West unified as it faces what White House officials say is an increasingly likely further invasion of Ukrainian territory. President Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron President Joe Biden announced Thursday the government will distribute 1 billion rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests free to Americans, along with the most protective N95 masks, as the White House looks to fight the spike in coronavirus casesPresident Joe Biden announces free masks, tests to fight omicron US president Joe Biden answers inflation query by calling Fox reporter SOB His comments were captured on video and by the microphone in front of him. Doocy laughed it off in a subsequent appearance on his network, joking, "Nobody has fact-checked him yet and said it's not true." Meet Willow, the newest addition to the Biden family The green-eyed canine joins long and varied line of White House pets. Russia's risky options following Ukraine attack Russia, which is seeking a pledge that NATO won't expand to include Ukraine, has options it could pursue short of a full-blown invasion, and other ways to lash out at the U.S. and its allies. All of them carry varying degrees of risk, to Russia and the world. France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to sit down for talks in two weeks, an effort aimed at reviving a 2015 agreement to ease the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Some fear this complicates efforts by the U.S. and NATO to show a united front against Russia. President Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' President Biden visited a bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh just hours before his visit to deliver remarks on infrastructure. The president pledged to rebuild it and fix other bridges across the countryPresident Joe Biden visits collapsed Pittsburgh bridge, says 'We're going to fix them all' Joe Biden administration to scrap Trump plan for wider Alaska oil drilling Official notice of the change will come in a notice to be filed on Monday in federal court in Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of Department of the Interior, said in a statement. U.S. economy likely regained steam in Q4, 2021 growth seen best in 37 years U.S. economic growth likely accelerated in the fourth quarter as businesses replenished depleted inventories to meet strong demand for goods, helping the nation to log its best performance in nearly four decades in 2021. North Korea fires two suspected missiles in 6th launch in 2022 North Korea has upped its testing activity recently in an apparent effort to pressure the Joe Biden administration in the US amid long-stalled nuclear talks. US delivers written response to Russia's security demands Washington has made clear that Russian demands for NATO to pull back troops and weapons from eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever joining are non-starters. It says it is ready to discuss other topics such as arms control and confidence-building measures. Biden's big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin President Joe Biden's effort to rally support, both at home and abroad, ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is just the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. U.S. companies push Biden, Congress for caution on Russia sanctions A trade group representing Chevron, General Electric and other big U.S. corporations that do business in Russia is asking the White House to consider allowing companies to fulfill commitments and to weigh exempting products as it crafts any sanctions. At the same time, big energy companies are pushing Congress to limit their scope and time frame. Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensions Russia launches new military drills amid Ukraine tensionsWith the West already accusing Moscow of massing more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border, the Russian military said it had launched drills involving 6,000 troops in the south and in the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US 'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: USThe U.S. State department said if Russia invades Ukraine, it would be met by a response that's not only "swift, severe and united," but also "unprecedented in its approach." Earlier, President Joe Biden told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to build forces along Ukraine’s border,” and an attack “would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.”'Unprecedented' response if Russia invades: US Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be needed Fauci says 'prudent' to have Omicron vaccine, but may not be neededA COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting the Omicron variant would be "prudent" even if it ultimately may not be needed, the top U.S. infectious disease official said on Tuesday as Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE announced such a clinical trial. US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflationPresident Joe Biden called on the Federal Reserve to do more to fight inflation by pulling back on its monetary boosting of the US economy.US Economy: Joe Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worryPutting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine. Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022 Global supply chains near make-or-break point for easing in 2022From Europe to the U.S. and China, production and transportation have stayed bogged down in the early days of 2022 by labor and parts shortages, in part because of the fast-spreading omicron variant. White House to hold second Competition Council meet White House to hold second Competition Council meetThe White House did not confirm the meeting would take place but said President Joe Biden would meet on Monday "with members of his administration on efforts to lower prices for working families." Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involved Five things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine - and why the US is involvedUkraine's layered history offers a window into the complex nation it is today - and why it is continuously under threat. As an Eastern Europe expert, I highlight five key points to keep in mind. Joe Biden to deliver first State of the Union address on March 1 Joe Biden to deliver first State of the Union address on March 1The speech is normally timed for January, and occasionally for February. The delay is driven in part by a busy legislative calendar, a winter spike in COVID-19 cases from the more transmissible omicron variant and the upcoming Winter Olympics, which ties up broadcast network time. Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pill Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pillPresident Joe Biden urged concern but not alarm Tuesday as the U.S. set new records for daily reported COVID-19 cases and his administration struggled to ease concerns about testing shortages, school closures and other disruptions caused by the surging omicron variant. The United States government doubled its order for Pfizer’s COVID pills on Tuesday, a move that will modestly increase the nation’s very limited supplies of the treatment in the short term amid a record-setting surge in coronavirus cases.Joe Biden addresses omicron surge concerns, confusion; to increase supply of ‘Game Changer’ Pfizer pill Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning' Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning'U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday hailed an announcement by Intel Corp. that it will construct a $20 billion factory outside Columbus, Ohio, creating 7,000 construction jobs and an additional 3,000 permanent jobs. Intel is the latest semiconductor company to announce expansion plans in the U.S. amid a global shortage of the chips used in phones, cars and video games. Biden said the announcement shows the U.S. is "in a better position than any nation...to seize these opportunities," and he hailed the passage of his bipartisan infrastructure legislation as one of the reasons.Intel plans $20bn semiconductor plant in Ohio, Biden says 'this is just the beginning' Biden and Kishida agree to 'push back' China's attempts to change status quo in East China Sea, SCS Biden and Kishida agree to 'push back' China's attempts to 0 COMMENTS Add a comment... 0/2000 COMMENT 1m07s Chrystia Freeland: "The names of both individuals and entities as well as crypto w

This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-20. Sources American Ornithologists' Union (1998). Checklist of North American Birds (PDF). Washington, DC: American Ornithologists' Union. ISBN 978-1-891276-00-2. Carboneras, Carlos (1992). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-10-8. Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter E., eds. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Collingwood, VIC: Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. Donne-Goussé, Carole; Laudet, Vincent; Hänni, Catherine (July 2002). "A molecular phylogeny of Anseriformes based on mitochondrial DNA analysis". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (3): 339–356. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00019-2. PMID 12099792. Elphick, Chris; Dunning, Jr., John B.; Sibley, David, eds. (2001). The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-6250-4. Erlandson, Jon M. (1994). Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4419-3231-0. Fieldhouse, Paul (2002). Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions. Vol. I: A–K. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-412-4. Fitter, Julian; Fitter, Daniel; Hosking, David (2000). Wildlife of the Galápagos. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-10295-5. Higman, B. W. (2012). How Food Made History. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-8947-7. Hume, Julian H. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4729-3744-5. Jeffries, Richard (2008). Holocene Hunter-Gatherers of the Lower Ohio River Valley. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 978-0-8173-1658-7. Kear, Janet, ed. (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans: Species Accounts (Cairina to Mergus). Bird Families of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861009-0. Livezey, Bradley C. (October 1986). "A phylogenetic analysis of recent Anseriform genera using morphological characters" (PDF). The Auk. 103 (4): 737–754. doi:10.1093/auk/103.4.737. Madsen, Cort S.; McHugh, Kevin P.; de Kloet, Siwo R. (July 1988). "A partial classification of waterfowl (Anatidae) based on single-copy DNA" (PDF). The Auk. 105 (3): 452–459. doi:10.1093/auk/105.3.452. Maisels, Charles Keith (1999). Early Civilizations of the Old World. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-10975-8. Pratt, H. Douglas; Bruner, Phillip L.; Berrett, Delwyn G. (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02399-9. Rau, Charles (1876). Early Man in Europe. New York: Harper & Brothers. LCCN 05040168. Shirihai, Hadoram (2002). A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Degerby, Finland: Alula Press. ISBN 951-98947-0-5. Sued-Badillo, Jalil (2003). Autochthonous Societies. General History of the Caribbean. Paris: UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103832-7. Thorpe, I. J. (1996). The Origins of Agriculture in Europe. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-08009-5. External links Duck at Wikipedia's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Textbooks from Wikibooks Data from Wikidata Taxa from Wikispecies list of books (useful looking abstracts) Ducks on postage stamps Ducks at a Distance, by Rob Hines at Project Gutenberg - A modern illustrated guide to identification of US waterfowl Last edited 13 days ago by Hussierhussier1 RELATED ARTICLES Anatidae Biological family of water birds Anseriformes Order of water birds Anatinae Subfamily of birds Wikipedia Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Privacy policy Terms of UseDesktop 0 COMMENTS Add a comment... 0/2000 COMMENT 15s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/4) TheHealth123 9s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/3) TheHealth123 9s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/2) TheHealth123 15s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/1) TheHealth123 3m26s Others Have Value Lauren, the Counselor 2m41s I have Value Lauren, the Counselor 1m07s Best food for Ducks Zulfqar 33s feed the ducks reality/ nature/video 10s I have cause! slicesnickerz 1m54s 4 Types of foods that cause pimples Kulsum13131 Rumble Feed ducks bread or junk food. Foods have no nutritional value to ducks and can cause painful Ducks & cat February 6, 2022 40 Views UNSUBSCRIBE 1 EMBED SHARE Rumble — This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-20. Sources American Ornithologists' Union (1998). Checklist of North American Birds (PDF). Washington, DC: American Ornithologists' Union. ISBN 978-1-891276-00-2. Carboneras, Carlos (1992). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-10-8. Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter E., eds. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Collingwood, VIC: Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. Donne-Goussé, Carole; Laudet, Vincent; Hänni, Catherine (July 2002). "A molecular phylogeny of Anseriformes based on mitochondrial DNA analysis". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (3): 339–356. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00019-2. PMID 12099792. Elphick, Chris; Dunning, Jr., John B.; Sibley, David, eds. (2001). The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-6250-4. Erlandson, Jon M. (1994). Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4419-3231-0. Fieldhouse, Paul (2002). Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions. Vol. I: A–K. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-412-4. Fitter, Julian; Fitter, Daniel; Hosking, David (2000). Wildlife of the Galápagos. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-10295-5. Higman, B. W. (2012). How Food Made History. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-8947-7. Hume, Julian H. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4729-3744-5. Jeffries, Richard (2008). Holocene Hunter-Gatherers of the Lower Ohio River Valley. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 978-0-8173-1658-7. Kear, Janet, ed. (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans: Species Accounts (Cairina to Mergus). Bird Families of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861009-0. Livezey, Bradley C. (October 1986). "A phylogenetic analysis of recent Anseriform genera using morphological characters" (PDF). The Auk. 103 (4): 737–754. doi:10.1093/auk/103.4.737. Madsen, Cort S.; McHugh, Kevin P.; de Kloet, Siwo R. (July 1988). "A partial classification of waterfowl (Anatidae) based on single-copy DNA" (PDF). The Auk. 105 (3): 452–459. doi:10.1093/auk/105.3.452. Maisels, Charles Keith (1999). Early Civilizations of the Old World. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-10975-8. Pratt, H. Douglas; Bruner, Phillip L.; Berrett, Delwyn G. (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02399-9. Rau, Charles (1876). Early Man in Europe. New York: Harper & Brothers. LCCN 05040168. Shirihai, Hadoram (2002). A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Degerby, Finland: Alula Press. ISBN 951-98947-0-5. Sued-Badillo, Jalil (2003). Autochthonous Societies. General History of the Caribbean. Paris: UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103832-7. Thorpe, I. J. (1996). The Origins of Agriculture in Europe. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-08009-5. External links Duck at Wikipedia's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Textbooks from Wikibooks Data from Wikidata Taxa from Wikispecies list of books (useful looking abstracts) Ducks on postage stamps Ducks at a Distance, by Rob Hines at Project Gutenberg - A modern illustrated guide to identification of US waterfowl Last edited 13 days ago by Hussierhussier1 RELATED ARTICLES Anatidae Biological family of water birds Anseriformes Order of water birds Anatinae Subfamily of birds Wikipedia Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Privacy policy Terms of UseDesktop 0 COMMENTS Add a comment... 0/2000 COMMENT 15s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/4) TheHealth123 9s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/3) TheHealth123 9s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/2) TheHealth123 15s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/1) Feed ducks bread or junk food. Foods have no nutritional value to ducks and can cause painful Ducks & cat February 6, 2022 40 Views UNSUBSCRIBE 1 EMBED SHARE Rumble — This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic 0 COMMENTS Add a comment... 0/2000 COMMENT 37m23s Fauci Admits on Camera There Is No Exit Plan for Masks | Direct Message | Rubin Report The Rubin Report 9m20s FREEDOM! JP Sears Speech at Defeat the Mandates DC Awaken With JP 9s Maltese puppies adorably square off in tug-of-war match Maltesebreeder 17m05s RESTORING the 19th century JUNK / cabinet restoration AT Restoration 5m34s Canada is Turning Into a Tyrannical Regime Right Before Our Eyes! Donald Trump Jr. 31m45s February 15, 2022 The Dershow 18m57s Built-in Dining Buffet MAKEOVER Mr. Build It 10m25s Pfizer Makes Historic Amounts Of Money While Worrying About Upcoming Trial Data Dump Kim Iversen 14m

This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-20. Sources American Ornithologists' Union (1998). Checklist of North American Birds (PDF). Washington, DC: American Ornithologists' Union. ISBN 978-1-891276-00-2. Carboneras, Carlos (1992). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-10-8. Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter E., eds. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Collingwood, VIC: Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. Donne-Goussé, Carole; Laudet, Vincent; Hänni, Catherine (July 2002). "A molecular phylogeny of Anseriformes based on mitochondrial DNA analysis". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (3): 339–356. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00019-2. PMID 12099792. Elphick, Chris; Dunning, Jr., John B.; Sibley, David, eds. (2001). The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-6250-4. Erlandson, Jon M. (1994). Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4419-3231-0. Fieldhouse, Paul (2002). Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions. Vol. I: A–K. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-412-4. Fitter, Julian; Fitter, Daniel; Hosking, David (2000). Wildlife of the Galápagos. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-10295-5. Higman, B. W. (2012). How Food Made History. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-8947-7. Hume, Julian H. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4729-3744-5. Jeffries, Richard (2008). Holocene Hunter-Gatherers of the Lower Ohio River Valley. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 978-0-8173-1658-7. Kear, Janet, ed. (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans: Species Accounts (Cairina to Mergus). Bird Families of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861009-0. Livezey, Bradley C. (October 1986). "A phylogenetic analysis of recent Anseriform genera using morphological characters" (PDF). The Auk. 103 (4): 737–754. doi:10.1093/auk/103.4.737. Madsen, Cort S.; McHugh, Kevin P.; de Kloet, Siwo R. (July 1988). "A partial classification of waterfowl (Anatidae) based on single-copy DNA" (PDF). The Auk. 105 (3): 452–459. doi:10.1093/auk/105.3.452. Maisels, Charles Keith (1999). Early Civilizations of the Old World. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-10975-8. Pratt, H. Douglas; Bruner, Phillip L.; Berrett, Delwyn G. (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02399-9. Rau, Charles (1876). Early Man in Europe. New York: Harper & Brothers. LCCN 05040168. Shirihai, Hadoram (2002). A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Degerby, Finland: Alula Press. ISBN 951-98947-0-5. Sued-Badillo, Jalil (2003). Autochthonous Societies. General History of the Caribbean. Paris: UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103832-7. Thorpe, I. J. (1996). The Origins of Agriculture in Europe. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-08009-5. External links Duck at Wikipedia's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Textbooks from Wikibooks Data from Wikidata Taxa from Wikispecies list of books (useful looking abstracts) Ducks on postage stamps Ducks at a Distance, by Rob Hines at Project Gutenberg - A modern illustrated guide to identification of US waterfowl Last edited 13 days ago by Hussierhussier1 RELATED ARTICLES Anatidae Biological family of water birds Anseriformes Order of water birds Anatinae Subfamily of birds Wikipedia Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Privacy policy Terms of UseDesktop 0 COMMENTS Add a comment... 0/2000 COMMENT 15s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/4) TheHealth123 9s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/3) TheHealth123 9s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/2) TheHealth123 15s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/1) TheHealth123 3m26s Others Have Value Lauren, the Counselor 2m41s I have Value Lauren, the Counselor 1m07s Best food for Ducks Zulfqar 33s feed the ducks reality/ nature/video 10s I have cause! slicesnickerz 1m54s 4 Types of foods that cause pimples Kulsum13131 Rumble Feed ducks bread or junk food. Foods have no nutritional value to ducks and can cause painful Ducks & cat February 6, 2022 40 Views UNSUBSCRIBE 1 EMBED SHARE Rumble — This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-20. Sources American Ornithologists' Union (1998). Checklist of North American Birds (PDF). Washington, DC: American Ornithologists' Union. ISBN 978-1-891276-00-2. Carboneras, Carlos (1992). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-10-8. Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter E., eds. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Collingwood, VIC: Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. Donne-Goussé, Carole; Laudet, Vincent; Hänni, Catherine (July 2002). "A molecular phylogeny of Anseriformes based on mitochondrial DNA analysis". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (3): 339–356. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00019-2. PMID 12099792. Elphick, Chris; Dunning, Jr., John B.; Sibley, David, eds. (2001). The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-6250-4. Erlandson, Jon M. (1994). Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4419-3231-0. Fieldhouse, Paul (2002). Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions. Vol. I: A–K. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-412-4. Fitter, Julian; Fitter, Daniel; Hosking, David (2000). Wildlife of the Galápagos. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-10295-5. Higman, B. W. (2012). How Food Made History. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-8947-7. Hume, Julian H. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4729-3744-5. Jeffries, Richard (2008). Holocene Hunter-Gatherers of the Lower Ohio River Valley. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 978-0-8173-1658-7. Kear, Janet, ed. (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans: Species Accounts (Cairina to Mergus). Bird Families of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861009-0. Livezey, Bradley C. (October 1986). "A phylogenetic analysis of recent Anseriform genera using morphological characters" (PDF). The Auk. 103 (4): 737–754. doi:10.1093/auk/103.4.737. Madsen, Cort S.; McHugh, Kevin P.; de Kloet, Siwo R. (July 1988). "A partial classification of waterfowl (Anatidae) based on single-copy DNA" (PDF). The Auk. 105 (3): 452–459. doi:10.1093/auk/105.3.452. Maisels, Charles Keith (1999). Early Civilizations of the Old World. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-10975-8. Pratt, H. Douglas; Bruner, Phillip L.; Berrett, Delwyn G. (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02399-9. Rau, Charles (1876). Early Man in Europe. New York: Harper & Brothers. LCCN 05040168. Shirihai, Hadoram (2002). A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Degerby, Finland: Alula Press. ISBN 951-98947-0-5. Sued-Badillo, Jalil (2003). Autochthonous Societies. General History of the Caribbean. Paris: UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103832-7. Thorpe, I. J. (1996). The Origins of Agriculture in Europe. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-08009-5. External links Duck at Wikipedia's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Textbooks from Wikibooks Data from Wikidata Taxa from Wikispecies list of books (useful looking abstracts) Ducks on postage stamps Ducks at a Distance, by Rob Hines at Project Gutenberg - A modern illustrated guide to identification of US waterfowl Last edited 13 days ago by Hussierhussier1 RELATED ARTICLES Anatidae Biological family of water birds Anseriformes Order of water birds Anatinae Subfamily of birds Wikipedia Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Privacy policy Terms of UseDesktop 0 COMMENTS Add a comment... 0/2000 COMMENT 15s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/4) TheHealth123 9s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/3) TheHealth123 9s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/2) TheHealth123 15s Health benefits and nutritional value of apples(4/1) Feed ducks bread or junk food. Foods have no nutritional value to ducks and can cause painful Ducks & cat February 6, 2022 40 Views UNSUBSCRIBE 1 EMBED SHARE Rumble — This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic

Duck This article is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck Indian Runner ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-20. Sources American Ornithologists' Union (1998). Checklist of North American Birds (PDF). Washington, DC: American Ornithologists' Union. ISBN 978-1-891276-00-2. Carboneras, Carlos (1992). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-10-8. Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter E., eds. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Collingwood, VIC: Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. Donne-Goussé, Carole; Laudet, Vincent; Hänni, Catherine (July 2002). "A molecular phylogeny of Anseriformes based on mitochondrial DNA analysis". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (3): 339–356. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00019-2. PMID 12099792. Elphick, Chris; Dunning, Jr., John B.; Sibley, David, eds. (2001). The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-6250-4. Erlandson, Jon M. (1994). Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4419-3231-0. Fieldhouse, Paul (2002). Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions. Vol. I: A–K. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-412-4. Fitter, Julian; Fitter, Daniel; Hosking, David (2000). Wildlife of the Galápagos. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-10295-5. Higman, B. W. (2012). How Food Made History. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-8947-7. Hume, Julian H. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4729-3744-5. Jeffries, Richard (2008). Holocene Hunter-Gatherers of the Lower Ohio River Valley. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 978-0-8173-1658-7. Kear, Janet, ed. (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans: Species Accounts (Cairina to Mergus). Bird Families of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861009-0. Livezey, Bradley C. (October 1986). "A phylogenetic analysis of recent Anseriform genera using morphological characters" (PDF). The Auk. 103 (4): 737–754. doi:10.1093/auk/103.4.737. Madsen, Cort S.; McHugh, Kevin P.; de Kloet, Siwo R. (July 1988). "A partial classification of waterfowl (Anatidae) based on single-copy DNA" (PDF). The Auk. 105 (3): 452–459. doi:10.1093/auk/105.3.452. Maisels, Charles Keith (1999). Early Civilizations of the Old World. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-10975-8. Pratt, H. Douglas; Bruner, Phillip L.; Berrett, Delwyn G. (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02399-9. Rau, Charles (1876). Early Man in Europe. New York: Harper & Brothers. LCCN 05040168. Shirihai, Hadoram (2002). A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Degerby, Finland: Alula Press. ISBN 951-98947-0-5. Sued-Badillo, Jalil (2003). Autochthonous Societies. General History of the Caribbean. Paris: UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103832-7. Thorpe, I. J. (1996). The Origins of Agriculture in Europe. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-08009-5. External links Duck at Wikipedia's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Textbooks from Wikibooks Data from Wikidata Taxa from Wikispecies list of books (useful looking abstracts) Ducks on postage stamps Ducks at a Distance, by Rob Hines at Project Gutenberg - A modern illustrated guide to identification of US waterfowl Last edited 1 day ago by Casualdejekyll RELATED ARTICLES Anatidae Biological family of water birds Anatinae Subfamily of birds Spotted whistling duck Species of bird Wikipedia Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Privacy policy Terms of UseDeDuck Article Talk Language Download PDF Watch Edit This article is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck Indian Runner ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-20. Sources American Ornithologists' Union (1998). Checklist of North American Birds (PDF). Washington, DC: American Ornithologists' Union. ISBN 978-1-891276-00-2. Carboneras, Carlos (1992). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-10-8. Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter E., eds. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Collingwood, VIC: Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. Donne-Goussé, Carole; Laudet, Vincent; Hänni, Catherine (July 2002). "A molecular phylogeny of Anseriformes based on mitochondrial DNA analysis". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (3): 339–356. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00019-2. PMID 12099792. Elphick, Chris; Dunning, Jr., John B.; Sibley, David, eds. (2001). The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-6250-4. Erlandson, Jon M. (1994). Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4419-3231-0. Fieldhouse, Paul (2002). Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions. Vol. I: A–K. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-412-4. Fitter, Julian; Fitter, Daniel; Hosking, David (2000). Wildlife of the Galápagos. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-10295-5. Higman, B. W. (2012). How Food Made History. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-8947-7. Hume, Julian H. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4729-3744-5. Jeffries, Richard (2008). Holocene Hunter-Gatherers of the Lower Ohio River Valley. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 978-0-8173-1658-7. Kear, Janet, ed. (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans: Species Accounts (Cairina to Mergus). Bird Families of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861009-0. Livezey, Bradley C. (October 1986). "A phylogenetic analysis of recent Anseriform genera using morphological characters" (PDF). The Auk. 103 (4): 737–754. doi:10.1093/auk/103.4.737. Madsen, Cort S.; McHugh, Kevin P.; de Kloet, Siwo R. (July 1988). "A partial classification of waterfowl (Anatidae) based on single-copy DNA" (PDF). The Auk. 105 (3): 452–459. doi:10.1093/auk/105.3.452. Maisels, Charles Keith (1999). Early Civilizations of the Old World. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-10975-8. Pratt, H. Douglas; Bruner, Phillip L.; Berrett, Delwyn G. (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02399-9. Rau, Charles (1876). Early Man in Europe. New York: Harper & Brothers. LCCN 05040168. Shirihai, Hadoram (2002). A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Degerby, Finland: Alula Press. ISBN 951-98947-0-5. Sued-Badillo, Jalil (2003). Autochthonous Societies. General History of the Caribbean. Paris: UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103832-7. Thorpe, I. J. (1996). The Origins of Agriculture in Europe. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-08009-5. External links Duck at Wikipedia's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Textbooks from Wikibooks Data from Wikidata Taxa from Wikispecies list of books (useful looking abstracts) Ducks on postage stamps Ducks at a Distance, by Rob Hines at Project Gutenberg - A modern illustrated guide to identification of US waterfowl Last edited 1 day ago by Casualdejekyll RELATED ARTICLES Anatidae Biological family of water birds

This clip is about the bird. For duck as a food, see Duck as food. For other uses, see Duck (disambiguation). "Duckling" redirects here. For other uses, see Duckling (disambiguation). Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water. Duck Bucephala-albeola-010.jpg Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Scientific classificatione Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Superfamily: Anatoidea Family: Anatidae Subfamilies See text Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules and coots. Etymology The word duck comes from Old English dūce 'diver', a derivative of the verb *dūcan 'to duck, bend down low as if to get under something, or dive', because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending; compare with Dutch duiken and German tauchen 'to dive'. Pacific black duck displaying the characteristic upending "duck" This word replaced Old English ened/ænid 'duck', possibly to avoid confusion with other words, like ende 'end' with similar forms. Other Germanic languages still have similar words for duck, for example, Dutch eend, German Ente and Norwegian and. The word ened/ænid was inherited from Proto-Indo-European; cf. Latin anas "duck", Lithuanian ántis 'duck', Ancient Greek νῆσσα/νῆττα (nēssa/nētta) 'duck', and Sanskrit ātí 'water bird', among others. A duckling is a young duck in downy plumage[1] or baby duck,[2] but in the food trade a young domestic duck which has just reached adult size and bulk and its meat is still fully tender, is sometimes labelled as a duckling. A male duck is called a drake and the female is called a duck, or in ornithology a hen.[3][4] Taxonomy All ducks belong to the biological order Anseriformes, a group that contains the ducks, geese and swans, as well as the screamers, and the magpie goose.[5] All except the screamers belong to the biological family Anatidae.[5] Within the family, ducks are split into a variety of subfamilies and 'tribes'. The number and composition of these subfamilies and tribes is the cause of considerable disagreement among taxonomists.[5] Some base their decisions on morphological characteristics, others on shared behaviours or genetic studies.[6][7] The number of suggested subfamilies containing ducks ranges from two to five.[8][9] The significant level of hybridisation that occurs among wild ducks complicates efforts to tease apart the relationships between various species.[9] Mallard landing in approach In most modern classifications, the so-called 'true ducks' belong to the subfamily Anatinae, which is further split into a varying number of tribes.[10] The largest of these, the Anatini, contains the 'dabbling' or 'river' ducks - named for their method of feeding primarily at the surface of fresh water.[11] The 'diving ducks', also named for their primary feeding method, make up the tribe Aythyini.[12] The 'sea ducks' of the tribe Mergini are diving ducks which specialise on fish and shellfish and spend a majority of their lives in saltwater.[13] The tribe Oxyurini contains the 'stifftails', diving ducks notable for their small size and stiff, upright tails.[14] A number of other species called ducks are not considered to be 'true ducks', and are typically placed in other subfamilies or tribes. The whistling ducks are assigned either to a tribe (Dendrocygnini) in the subfamily Anatinae or the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or to their own subfamily (Dendrocygninae) or family (Dendrocyganidae).[9][16] The freckled duck of Australia is either the sole member of the tribe Stictonettini in the subfamily Anserinae,[15] or in its own family, the Stictonettinae.[9] The shelducks make up the tribe Tadornini in the family Anserinae in some classifications,[15] and their own subfamily, Tadorninae, in others,[17] while the steamer ducks are either placed in the family Anserinae in the tribe Tachyerini[15] or lumped with the shelducks in the tribe Tadorini.[9] The perching ducks make up in the tribe Cairinini in the subfamily Anserinae in some classifications, while that tribe is eliminated in other classifications and its members assigned to the tribe Anatini.[9] The torrent duck is generally included in the subfamily Anserinae in the monotypic tribe Merganettini,[15] but is sometimes included in the tribe Tadornini.[18] The pink-eared duck is sometimes included as a true duck either in the tribe Anatini[15] or the tribe Malacorhynchini,[19] and other times is included with the shelducks in the tribe Tadornini.[15] Morphology Male Mandarin duck The overall body plan of ducks is elongated and broad, and they are also relatively long-necked, albeit not as long-necked as the geese and swans. The body shape of diving ducks varies somewhat from this in being more rounded. The bill is usually broad and contains serrated pectens, which are particularly well defined in the filter-feeding species. In the case of some fishing species the bill is long and strongly serrated. The scaled legs are strong and well developed, and generally set far back on the body, more so in the highly aquatic species. The wings are very strong and are generally short and pointed, and the flight of ducks requires fast continuous strokes, requiring in turn strong wing muscles. Three species of steamer duck are almost flightless, however. Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. The drakes of northern species often have extravagant plumage, but that is moulted in summer to give a more female-like appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. Southern resident species typically show less sexual dimorphism, although there are exceptions such as the paradise shelduck of New Zealand, which is both strikingly sexually dimorphic and in which the female's plumage is brighter than that of the male. The plumage of juvenile birds generally resembles that of the female. Over the course of evolution, female ducks have evolved to have a corkscrew shaped vagina to prevent rape. Distribution and habitat See also: List of Anseriformes by population Flying steamer ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina Ducks have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.[5] Several species manage to live on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the Auckland Islands.[20] Ducks have reached a number of isolated oceanic islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia and the Galápagos Islands, where they are often vagrants and less often residents.[21][22] A handful are endemic to such far-flung islands.[21] A brown duck in a fast-flowing stream Female mallard in Cornwall, UK. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere, are migratory; those in the tropics are generally not. Some ducks, particularly in Australia where rainfall is erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain.[23] Behaviour Feeding Pecten along the beak File:Duckling preening (81313).webmPlay media Mallard duckling preening Ducks eat food sources such as grasses, aquatic plants, fish, insects, small amphibians, worms, and small molluscs. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging.[24] Along the edge of the beak, there is a comb-like structure called a pecten. This strains the water squirting from the side of the beak and traps any food. The pecten is also used to preen feathers and to hold slippery food items. Diving ducks and sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks, and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. A few specialized species such as the mergansers are adapted to catch and swallow large fish. The others have the characteristic wide flat beak adapted to dredging-type jobs such as pulling up waterweed, pulling worms and small molluscs out of mud, searching for insect larvae, and bulk jobs such as dredging out, holding, turning head first, and swallowing a squirming frog. To avoid injury when digging into sediment it has no cere, but the nostrils come out through hard horn. The Guardian (British newspaper) published an article advising that ducks should not be fed with bread because it damages the health of the ducks and pollutes waterways.[25] Breeding A Muscovy duckling Ducks generally only have one partner at a time, although the partnership usually only lasts one year.[26] Larger species and the more sedentary species (like fast-river specialists) tend to have pair-bonds that last numerous years.[27] Most duck species breed once a year, choosing to do so in favourable conditions (spring/summer or wet seasons). Ducks also tend to make a nest before breeding, and, after hatching, lead their ducklings to water. Mother ducks are very caring and protective of their young, but may abandon some of their ducklings if they are physically stuck in an area they cannot get out of (such as nesting in an enclosed courtyard) or are not prospering due to genetic defects or sickness brought about by hypothermia, starvation, or disease. Ducklings can also be orphaned by inconsistent late hatching where a few eggs hatch after the mother has abandoned the nest and led her ducklings to water.[28] Communication Female mallard ducks (as well as several other species in the genus Anas, such as the American and Pacific black ducks, spot-billed duck, northern pintail and common teal) make the classic "quack" sound while males make a similar but raspier sound that is sometimes written as "breeeeze",[29][self-published source?] but, despite widespread misconceptions, most species of duck do not "quack".[30] In general, ducks make a range of calls, including whistles, cooing, yodels and grunts. For example, the scaup – which are diving ducks – make a noise like "scaup" (hence their name). Calls may be loud displaying calls or quieter contact calls. A common urban legend claims that duck quacks do not echo; however, this has been proven to be false. This myth was first debunked by the Acoustics Research Centre at the University of Salford in 2003 as part of the British Association's Festival of Science.[31] It was also debunked in one of the earlier episodes of the popular Discovery Channel television show MythBusters.[32] Predators Ringed teal Ducks have many predators. Ducklings are particularly vulnerable, since their inability to fly makes them easy prey not only for predatory birds but also for large fish like pike, crocodilians, predatory testudines such as the alligator snapping turtle, and other aquatic hunters, including fish-eating birds such as herons. Ducks' nests are raided by land-based predators, and brooding females may be caught unaware on the nest by mammals, such as foxes, or large birds, such as hawks or owls. Adult ducks are fast fliers, but may be caught on the water by large aquatic predators including big fish such as the North American muskie and the European pike. In flight, ducks are safe from all but a few predators such as humans and the peregrine falcon, which uses its speed and strength to catch ducks. Relationship with humans Hunting Main article: Waterfowl hunting Humans have hunted ducks since prehistoric times. Excavations of middens in California dating to 7800 - 6400 BP have turned up bones of ducks, including at least one now-extinct flightless species.[33] Ducks were captured in "significant numbers" by Holocene inhabitants of the lower Ohio River valley, suggesting they took advantage of the seasonal bounty provided by migrating waterfowl.[34] Neolithic hunters in locations as far apart as the Caribbean,[35] Scandinavia,[36] Egypt,[37] Switzerland,[38] and China relied on ducks as a source of protein for some or all of the year.[39] Archeological evidence shows that Māori people in New Zealand hunted the flightless Finsch's duck, possibly to extinction, though rat predation may also have contributed to its fate.[40] A similar end awaited the Chatham duck, a species with reduced flying capabilities which went extinct shortly after its island was colonised by Polynesian settlers.[41] It is probable that duck eggs were gathered by Neolithic hunter-gathers as well, though hard evidence of this is uncommon.[35][42] In many areas, wild ducks (including ducks farmed and released into the wild) are hunted for food or sport,[43] by shooting, or formerly by being trapped using duck decoys. Because an idle floating duck or a duck squatting on land cannot react to fly or move quickly, "a sitting duck" has come to mean "an easy target". These ducks may be contaminated by pollutants such as PCBs.[44] Domestication Main article: Domestic duck American Pekin ducks, a common breed of domestic ducks Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers (particularly their down). Approximately 3 billion ducks are slaughtered each year for meat worldwide.[45] They are also kept and bred by aviculturists and often displayed in zoos. Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), apart from the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).[46][47] The call duck is another example of a domestic duck breed. Its name comes from its original use established by hunters, as a decoy to attract wild mallards from the sky, into traps set for them on the ground. The call duck is the world's smallest domestic duck breed, as it weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lb).[48] Heraldry Three black-colored ducks in the coat of arms of Maaninka[49] Ducks appear on several coats of arms, including the coat of arms of Lubāna (Latvia)[50] and the coat of arms of Föglö (Åland).[51] Cultural references In 2002, psychologist Richard Wiseman and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, finished a year-long LaughLab experiment, concluding that of all animals, ducks attract the most humor and silliness; he said, "If you're going to tell a joke involving an animal, make it a duck."[52] The word "duck" may have become an inherently funny word in many languages, possibly because ducks are seen as silly in their looks or behavior. Of the many ducks in fiction, many are cartoon characters, such as Walt Disney's Donald Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Howard the Duck started as a comic book character in 1973[53][54] and was made into a movie in 1986. The 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, chose the duck as the mascot for the fictional youth hockey team who are protagonists of the movie, based on the duck being described as a fierce fighter. This led to the duck becoming the nickname and mascot for the eventual National Hockey League professional team of the Anaheim Ducks, who were founded with the name the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.[citation needed] The duck is also the nickname of the University of Oregon sports teams as well as the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team.[55] See also Birds portal Duck as food Duck crossing Duck test Duck breeds Fictional ducks Rubber duck Notes Citations "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version). K. Dictionaries Ltd. 2000–2006. Retrieved 2015-05-22. Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2001). The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300138139. Visca, Curt; Visca, Kelley (2003). How to Draw Cartoon Birds. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823961566. Carboneras 1992, p. 536. Livezey 1986, pp. 737–738. Madsen, McHugh & de Kloet 1988, p. 452. Donne-Goussé, Laudet & Hänni 2002, pp. 353–354. Carboneras 1992, p. 540. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 191. Kear 2005, p. 448. Kear 2005, p. 622–623. Kear 2005, p. 686. Elphick, Dunning, Jr. & Sibley 2001, p. 193. Carboneras 1992, p. 537. American Ornithologists' Union 1998, p. xix. American Ornithologists' Union 1998. Carboneras 1992, p. 538. Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 62. Shirihai 2002, pp. 239, 245. Pratt, Bruner & Berrett 1987, pp. 98–107. Fitter, Fitter & Hosking 2000, pp. 52–3. "Pacific Black Duck". www.wiresnr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27. Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. Retrieved 2006-11-02. Karl Mathiesen (16 March 2015). "Don't feed the ducks bread, say conservationists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 November 2016. Rohwer, Frank C.; Anderson, Michael G. (1988). "Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl". Current Ornithology. pp. 187–221. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6787-5_4. ISBN 978-1-4615-6789-9. Smith, Cyndi M.; Cooke, Fred; Robertson, Gregory J.; Goudie, R. Ian; Boyd, W. Sean (2000). "Long-Term Pair Bonds in Harlequin Ducks". The Condor. 102 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1093/condor/102.1.201. "If You Find An Orphaned Duckling - Wildlife Rehabber". wildliferehabber.com. Carver, Heather (2011). The Duck Bible. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780557901562.[self-published source] Titlow, Budd (2013-09-03). Bird Brains: Inside the Strange Minds of Our Fine Feathered Friends. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780762797707. Amos, Jonathan (2003-09-08). "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-02. "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 December 2003. Erlandson 1994, p. 171. Jeffries 2008, pp. 168, 243. Sued-Badillo 2003, p. 65. Thorpe 1996, p. 68. Maisels 1999, p. 42. Rau 1876, p. 133. Higman 2012, p. 23. Hume 2012, p. 53. Hume 2012, p. 52. Fieldhouse 2002, p. 167. Livingston, A. D. (1998-01-01). Guide to Edible Plants and Animals. Wordsworth Editions, Limited. ISBN 9781853263774. "Study plan for waterfowl injury assessment: Determining PCB concentrations in Hudson river resident waterfowl" (PDF). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. US Department of Commerce. December 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2019. "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25. "Anas platyrhynchos, Domestic Duck; DigiMorph Staff - The University of Texas at Austin". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Sy Montgomery. "Mallard; Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23. Glenday, Craig (2014). Guinness World Records. pp. 135. ISBN 978-1-908843-15-9. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 147. ISBN 951-773-085-3. "Lubānas simbolika" (in Latvian). Retrieved September 9, 2021. "Föglö" (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2021. Young, Emma. "World's funniest joke revealed". New Scientist. Retrieved 7 January 2019. "Howard the Duck (character)". Grand Comics Database. Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756641238. December saw the debut of the cigar-smoking Howard the Duck. In this story by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik, various beings from different realities had begun turning up in the Man-Thing's Florida swamp, including this bad-tempered talking duck. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help) "The Duck". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-20. Sources American Ornithologists' Union (1998). Checklist of North American Birds (PDF). Washington, DC: American Ornithologists' Union. ISBN 978-1-891276-00-2. Carboneras, Carlos (1992). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-10-8. Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter E., eds. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Collingwood, VIC: Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. Donne-Goussé, Carole; Laudet, Vincent; Hänni, Catherine (July 2002). "A molecular phylogeny of Anseriformes based on mitochondrial DNA analysis". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (3): 339–356. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00019-2. PMID 12099792. Elphick, Chris; Dunning, Jr., John B.; Sibley, David, eds. (2001). The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-6250-4. Erlandson, Jon M. (1994). Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4419-3231-0. Fieldhouse, Paul (2002). Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions. Vol. I: A–K. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-412-4. Fitter, Julian; Fitter, Daniel; Hosking, David (2000). Wildlife of the Galápagos. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-10295-5. Higman, B. W. (2012). How Food Made History. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-8947-7. Hume, Julian H. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4729-3744-5. Jeffries, Richard (2008). Holocene Hunter-Gatherers of the Lower Ohio River Valley. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 978-0-8173-1658-7. Kear, Janet, ed. (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans: Species Accounts (Cairina to Mergus). Bird Families of the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-861009-0. Livezey, Bradley C. (October 1986). "A phylogenetic analysis of recent Anseriform genera using morphological characters" (PDF). The Auk. 103 (4): 737–754. doi:10.1093/auk/103.4.737. Madsen, Cort S.; McHugh, Kevin P.; de Kloet, Siwo R. (July 1988). "A partial classification of waterfowl (Anatidae) based on single-copy DNA" (PDF). The Auk. 105 (3): 452–459. doi:10.1093/auk/105.3.452. Maisels, Charles Keith (1999). Early Civilizations of the Old World. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-10975-8. Pratt, H. Douglas; Bruner, Phillip L.; Berrett, Delwyn G. (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02399-9. Rau, Charles (1876). Early Man in Europe. New York: Harper & Brothers. LCCN 05040168. Shirihai, Hadoram (2002). A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. Degerby, Finland: Alula Press. ISBN 951-98947-0-5. Sued-Badillo, Jalil (2003). Autochthonous Societies. General History of the Caribbean. Paris: UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103832-7. Thorpe, I. J. (1996). The Origins of Agriculture in Europe. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-08009-5. External links Duck at Wikipedia's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons Quotations from Wikiquote Textbooks from Wikibooks Data from Wikidata Taxa from Wikispecies list of books (useful looking abstracts) Ducks on postage stamps Ducks at a Distance, by Rob Hines at Project Gutenberg - A modern illustrated guide to identification of US waterfowl Last edited 13 days ago by Hussierhussier1 RELATED ARTICLES Anatidae Biological family of water birds Anseriformes Order of water birds Anatinae Subfamily of birds Wikipedia Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Privacy policy Terms of UseDesktop

Cats are very cute, and they are also really great pets as they know how to take care of themselves and don’t need much help from their humans. Cats know how to clean up after themselves and also to survive without much help from their humans. This is why they make the perfect pet because they can care for themselves. However, they still make themselves cozy and comfortable with their owners. Long and Short Essays on My Pet Cat for Students and Kids in English Read below to find two essays about my pet cat. The first essay is a long essay of 500 words, and the second is a short essay of 200 words. The former is suitable for class 7-10 students as well as for those aspiring for competitive exams. The latter essay is ideal for kids of class 6 and below. Long Essay on My Pet Cat 500 Words in English Below we have given a long essay about my pet cat of 500 words and is suitable for students of class 7 to 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. Long Essay on My Pet Cat in English for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants My pet cat is Peter, and he is a Siamese cat. My younger brother named our cat Peter because he thought it would be funny to give our cat a human name. Most of my relatives also think that that is funny because their pet cats have names like ‘Fluffy.’ I wanted to name my cat Garfield, as the comic because I love reading Garfield comics, but now his name is Peter. Peter is a white cat with patches of fading black fur here are there. Around his face, there is a shadow-like patch of black fur, in the middle of which you can see Peter’s big, bright, and round blue eyes. Through the patch, you can also see his white whiskers in a sticking out fashion. Even Peter’s ears, paws, and tail are black, while the rest of his body is covered in soft white fur. This color patching of black and white is the common characteristic of all Siamese cats. Peter is a very clean cat who knows how to clean up after himself when he has to go to the bathroom. His kitty litter box is kept in the bathroom in my house so that he can be just as independent as his humans, i.e., my family and me. After he finishes his bathroom business, he even covers it up with the litter. Most cats are known to prefer to be on their own, being independent, etc. However, Peter is the opposite of that. He loves to get affection and attention and playing with everyone who wants to. His favorite person to play with is my father because he gives Peter lots of treats. Yes, Peter gets a lot of treats along with his two meals a day, which is why he is one of the fattest cats I have ever seen. His fatness makes him very cute, chubby, and fun to play with, and he is the best cuddle buddy. Another way that my pet cat Peter is very different from other cats is that he likes to play Fetch. My aunt bought him a small squeaky toy, which, when we throw it for him, fetches it and brings it back. He also likes to go for walks with my mom and me in the evenings and does not hate it when we put a collar and leash to take him out. My friends told me that their cats really hate when they do that, but Peter likes to go out like that. I really love my pet cat Peter because he is always there to keep me company when I don’t want to be alone. When I’m doing my homework or working on a project, watching TV, playing video games, or anything else, Peter comes and sits down with me to keep me company. It is a very nice feeling to have a pet cat. Essay on My Pet Cat Short Essay on My Pet Cat 200 Words in English Below we have given a short essay about my pet cat of 200 words. This short essay on the topic of My Pet Cat is suitable for students of class 6 and below. Short My Pet Cat Essay in English for Classes 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. My pet cat is a Persian Cat, and her name is Fluffles. My family and I named her Fluffles because of how fluffy and soft her white fur is. Sometimes, Fluffles camouflages with the carpet in my bedroom, which is also white. Fluffles really loves to sleep on that carpet, which is why we must be cautious at home so that we don’t step on her. Fluffles is always there at home for me when I come back from school. Sometimes, when I feel bad, I sit next to Fluffles and pet her soft fur, which makes me feel happy. Once, I got fewer marks than everyone in a maths test, so I felt terrible, but I went to Fluffles and played with her for a while, which made my mood better. It is not only my family that loves my pet cat Fluffles and me but also all my friends who come over, my cousins, etc all love to play with my pet cat. Maybe it is because she is very cute, or very fluffy, or maybe because she is a really nice pet for me and everyone else to play with. I really love Fluffles, and I hope she lives forever. 10 Lines About My Pet Cat Essay Cats are great pets because they know how to clean up after each other. Pet cats give you their attention whenever it pleases them, and it’s better not to force them to do that. Cats are very cute to look at, which is why having a pet cat is so nice. Cats have very soft coats of fur, which makes them look like soft rugs, and once you pet them, you don’t want to stop because they are so soft. My pet cat loves to play with my family and me. My pet cat is the most attached to the person who gives him or her treats. All my friends and relatives also love my pet cat. Hanging out with my pet cat always makes my mood better. My pet cat keeps me company all the time so that I never have to be alone. I hope my pet cat lives forever. Essay About My Pet Cat FAQ’s On My Pet Cat Essay Question 1. Why should I get a pet cat? Answer: You should get a pet cat because they will always keep you company, especially when you feel down. Question 2. What is the kitty litter box? Answer: A kitty litter box is a box in which cats go and relieve themselves. This box is filled with litter, which you can buy in the market. You must change this litter every few days so that it remains fresh. Question 3. What does it mean that cats are independent in their ways? Answer: Cats are independent in the sense that they do not necessarily need much to be entertained. If you leave a cat, be to sleep or play around on its own, most probably it will be fine. Thus, cats are very independent and love being alone with themselves. Question 4. What do you feed cats? Answer: Cats are carnivores, which means they love eating meat and fish. However, despite this, cats love drinking milk, and their favorite meal is fish. 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Duck Facts and Worksheets Ducks are birds and are commonly known as waterfowl because they spend so much time around places with water. They are found everywhere in the world except Antarctica where it is too cold for them. Ducks are birds and are commonly known as “waterfowl” because they spend so much time in places with water. They love water! They are found everywhere in the world except Antarctica where it is too cold for them. Keep reading for some interesting facts on ducks below. Ducks are birds that are also called “waterfowls” because they are normally found in places with water like marshes, oceans, rivers, ponds, and lakes. This is because ducks love the water. Ducks can live from 2-12 years, depending on species. Some species of ducks migrate or travel long distances every year to breed. Usually they travel to warmer areas or where the water does not freeze so that they can rest and raise their young. The distance may be thousands of miles away. Ducks are found everywhere in the world except the Antarctica which is too cold for them. Ducks are related to geese and swans, but the duck is the smallest of them all. Ducks have shorter necks and wings than other waterfowl, and they also have a stout body. Ducks of different species look different. Some ducks are very colorful like the Perching ducks. Usually, the males or drakes are usually the brightly colored ones while the females (ducks) are usually dull-colored and brown in color so that they can hide and camouflage from their enemies when they are in their nests. Ducks have webbed feet that are designed for swimming. Their webbed feet act like paddles and they waddle instead of walk because of their feet. The duck’s feet cannot feel cold even if it swims in icy cold water because their feet have no nerves or blood vessels. The duck has water-proof feathers. A special gland that produces oil is located near the duck’s tail. This oil spreads and covers the outer coat of the duck’s feathers, making it water-proof. Beneath the water-proof feathers are fluffy and soft feathers that keep the duck warm. Ducks keep their feathers clean by preening. They do this by putting their heads in funny positions and putting their beaks into their body. They preen themselves very often. Most ducks quack, however, the wood duck squeals. The duck’s mouth is called a “bill”. However, ducks bills come in different shapes and sizes. The shape of the bill and body features will determine how the duck hunt for its food. Ducks usually look for a mate in winter. The males will attract the females with their colorful plumage or feathers. Once the female lays 5-12 eggs, she will start to sit on her eggs to keep it warm so that they can hatch into ducklings. The males on the other hand, will be with the other males. The eggs of most ducks will hatch within 28 days. The mother duck will keep her ducklings together to protect them from predators. Animals like the hawk, snakes, raccoon, turtles, and large fish will eat the ducklings. Ducklings are able to fly within 5-8 weeks. The production of eggs are affected by daylight. When there is more daylight, the ducks will lay more eggs. In the months of July to December when daylight is short, ducks slow down their production of eggs. Sometimes, they stop laying eggs completely during these months. To prevent this from happening, farmers use artificial lighting so that the ducks have about 17 hours of light a day to produce eggs efficiently. Duck Worksheets This comprehensive guide to your study of Ducks is an incredible addition to any science class. It is packed with over 19 pages of facts, information and trivia focusing on characteristics of Ducks and key features of this wonderful Animal. This is an excellent addition to your studies and will help you understand everything you need to about Ducks and the different types of Duck species. Download today! Download the study guide to learn more about Ducks of which are commonly known as Waterfowl for their love of water. Use it in the classroom perhaps when studying animals and animal habitats or at home for further revision.The worksheet includes challenging activities to really test the knowledge gained on the study of Ducks and different species of Ducks across the world.